Civil litigation is a process for resolving public and private legal disputes on civil matters through negotiation or through the courts. Most adults at some time will become involved in a dispute with another party. It might be a contractor who damaged your home, a roofer who did not fix a leak or a driver who rear-ended you while you were stopped at a traffic light. Most of these disputes will be resolved without involving lawyers or the court system. Some, however, will escalate into civil lawsuits.