What standard of proof is applied in civil cases?

The standard of proof applied in civil cases is known as "preponderance of the evidence." This means that for a party to prevail in a civil lawsuit, they must provide evidence that is more convincing and likely true than not true. It represents a lower threshold than the standard used in criminal cases, which is "beyond a reasonable doubt."

In civil cases, the jury or judge assesses whether the evidence shows that a claim is more likely true than false, which typically translates to a requirement that the evidence must tilt the scales in favor of one party by just over 50%. This standard reflects the nature of civil disputes, which often involve private wrongs or obligations, rather than state enforcement against criminal actions.

The other standards of proof, such as "beyond a reasonable doubt," are used in criminal cases, meaning the prosecution must establish the defendant's guilt to such a degree that there remains no reasonable doubt in the jurors' minds. "Reasonable suspicion" and "probable cause" are terms related to law enforcement and not relevant to civil proceedings; the former refers to the belief based on specific facts that a crime may be occurring, and the latter refers to the level of belief needed for police officers to make arrests or conduct searches.