Civil Cases
Civil eases are usually disputes between or among private citizens, corporations, governments, government agencies, and other organizations. Most often, the party bringing the suit is asking for money damages for some wrong that has been done. For example, a tenant may sue a landlord for failure to fix a leaky roof, or a landlord may sue a tenant for failure to pay rent. People who have been injured may sue a person or a company they feel is responsible for the injury.
The party bringing the suit is called the plaintiff; the party being sued is called the defendant. There may be many plaintiffs or many defendants in the same case. The plaintiff starts the
lawsuit by filing a paper called a complaint, in which the case against the defendant is stated. The next paper filed is usually the answer, in which the defendant disputes what the plaintiff has said in the complaint. The defendant may also feel that there has been a wrong
committed by the plaintiff, in which case a counterclaim will be filed along with the answer. It is up to the plaintiff to prove the case against the defendant. In cach civil case the judge tells the jury the extent to which the plaintiff must prove the case. This is called the plaintiffs burden of proof, a burden that the plaintiff must meet in order to win. In most civil cases the plaintiffs burden is to prove the case by a preponderance of evidence, that is, that the plaintiffs version of what happened in the case is more probably true than not true. Jury verdicts do not need to be unanimous in civil cases. Only ten jurors need to agree upon a verdict if there are 12 jurors: five must agree if there are six jurors.
Criminal Cases
A criminal case is brought by the state or by a city or county against a person or persons accused of having committed a crime. The state, city,or county is called the plaintiff; the accused person is called the defendant. The charge against the defendant is called an information or a complaint. The defendant has pleaded not guilty and you should presume the defendant’s innocence throughout the entire trial unless the plaintiff proves the defendant guilty. The plaintiffs burden of proof is greater in a criminal case than in a civil case. In each criminal case you hear the judge will tell you all the elements of the crime that the plaintiff must prove; the plaintiff must prove each of these elements beyond reasonable
doubt before the defendant can be found guilty. In criminal cases the verdict must be unanimous, that is, all jurors must agree that the defendant is guilty in order to overcome the
presumption of innocence.
TASK 2. Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
1. заявление об обвинении
2. элемент (состава) преступления
3. презумпция невиновности
4. показания (2)
5. истец
6. судебное разбирательство (3)
7. частные лица
8. денежная компенсация ущерба
9. единогласное решение присяжных
10. наличие более веских доказательств
11. письменные объяснения, возражения ответчика по делу
12. ответчик
13. встречный иск
14. бремя доказывания
15. ответственность за ущерб
16. подать иск /возбудить дело
17. заслушать показания
18. заявить о своей невиновности
TASK 3. Translate the following definitions into Russian:
DEFENDANT — (crim.) person charged with a crime; (civ.) person or entity against whom a civil action is brought.
ACTION — proceeding taken in court synonymous to case, suit, lawsuit
PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE means that the weight of evidence presented by one side is more convincing to the trier of facts than the evidence presented by the opposing side.
PLAINTIFF — the party who begins an action, complains or sues.
COUNTERCLAIM — claim presented by a defendant in opposition to the claim of the plaintiff.
COMPLAINT — (crim.) formal written charge that a person has committed a criminal offence; (civ.) initial document filed by a plaintiff which starts the claim against
the defendant.
TASK 4. Match the following English expressions with their Russian equivalents:
1) evidence for the plaintiff а) вызывать истца в суд
2) judgement for the plaintiff b) выступать в суде в качестве адвоката истца
3) plaintiffs claim с) доказательства в пользу истца
4) to appear for the plaintiff d) исковое требование
5) to call the plaintiff е) свидетель, выставленный истцом
6) witness by the plaintiff f) судебное решение в пользу Истца
Match the following English expressions with their Russian equivalents:
1) convicted defendant а) подсудимый, содержащийся под стражей
2) defendant in custody b) осуждённый
3) defendant’s record с) досье подсудимого
4) defendant’s story d) свидетель, выставленный ответчиком /
подсудимым
5) defendant’s witness е) версия, выдвинутая обвиняемым
TASK 6. Answer the following questions:
1. What is a civil case
2. Who is a p laintiff
3. Who is a defendant
4. What is a complaint
5. What is an answer
6. What is a counterclaim
7. What is a burden of proof
8. What is a criminal ca s e
9. What is preponderance of evidence
10. How many jurors are necessary to agree upon the verdict in a criminal case?
11. Who is the plaintiff in a criminal case?
12. What is meant by the presumption of innocence
Task 7. Test your translating skills.
1. Суд начинается с представления дела адвокатом истца и вызовом свидетелей по слушаемому делу.
2. В гражданском процессе с помощью доказательств устанавливается наличие или отсутствие обстоятельств для исковых или иных требований, возражения сторон и определения действительных прав и обязанностей сторон.
3. Представлять дело в суде может сам подсудимый, но большинство людей предпочитают, чтобы их представлял профессиональный юрист.
4. Серьезные преступления должны рассматриваться в суде присяжных, а незначительные – в магистратском суде, однако многие преступления средней степени опасности могут рассматриваться обоими судами.
Vocabulary:
Task 1. Circle the odd word in each horizontal group.
1. a writ - the defendant - an indictment - inspection of documents - a trial
2. beyond a reasonable doubt - a jury - a witness - a plaintiff - an arrest
3. facts in issue - circumstantial evidence - hearsay evidence - a jury
4. court - the judge - prosecutor - hijacker- defence lawyer
5. jury trial - verdict - sentence - at random - a conference room
Task 3. Fill in the blanks with the words derived from the words in bold.
1. Most summary offences must be … within 6 months, but there is no time limit for trial on indictment. TRY
2. Experts disagree about the main cause of …. Does it depend mainly on social factors or on the offender’s personality and physical characteristics? CRIME
3. It seems unjust to arrest a poor old person for …. SHOP
4. In modern western society serious crimes are generally punished with …. PRISON
5. Some MPs are calling for introduction of … without trial to combat terrorism. DETAIN
7. We feel that the laws against begging should not be …. FORCE
8. The judge described Jones as a “… criminal” who was a danger to the public. HARD
Task 4. Substitute a suitable word or phrase for the part of each sentence in italics.
1. The lawyer who represented the plaintiff in court contended that Mr Wilson, the plaintiff, had accepted the defendants’ offer by his act.
2. By convention, peers with no professional legal qualifications do not take part in judicial sittings of the House of Lords.
3. A magistrates’ court only hears cases which are before a court for the first time.
4. The county court is a court which does not try criminal cases, but hears actions in the law of contract, tort, family law, etc.
5. English judges are not free to reach any decision they like in a case, but must follow rules laid down in previous cases which bind the court.
Task 5. Choose the correct variant.
In Scotland the High Court of Judiciary tries / deals such crimes as murder, treason and rape; the sheriff court is concerned / hears with less serious offences and the district court with minor offences. Criminal cases are heard either under solemn procedure, when proceedings are taken on indictment / summary and the judge sits with a jury of 15 members, or under indictment / summary procedure, when the judge sits without a jury. All
cases in the High Court and the more serious ones in sheriff courts are tried by a judge and jury. Summary procedure is used in the less serious cases in the sheriff courts, and in all cases in the district courts. District courts are the administrative responsibility of the district and the island local government authorities; the parties / judges are lay justices of the peace and the local authorities may appoint up to one quarter of their elected members to be ex officio justices. In Glasgow there are four stipendiary magistrates who are full-time salaried lawyers and have equivalent criminal jurisdiction / investigation to a sheriff sitting under summary procedure. Children under 16 who have committed / done an offence or are for other reasons need compulsory care may be brought before a children’s hearing comprising
three members of the local staff / community.
Task 6. Use your knowledge of English law and law terms to choose the correct alternative and complete each of the sentences below.
1. Judicial corporal punishment was … in England in 1948.
a. abolished c. endorsed b. repealed d. ratified
2. The Crown Court sentenced him to … for committing assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
a. a suspended sentence c. judicial corporal punishment
b. a two-year probation order d. 5 years’ imprisonment
3. The defendant’s husband was killed in the accident she had caused. It was found that she was guilty of gross negligence, but had not intended to kill the victim. As a result she was convicted of ….
a. killing c. murder b. manslaughter d. assault
4. The case for the defence was presented to the court by ….
a. the judge c. counsel for the defendant
b. the draftsman d. counsel for the plaintiff
5. The defendant’s father was charged with … for trying to influence the judge
by offering him a large sum of money.
a. kidnapping c. bribery and corruption b. arson d. indecency
6. In view of the evidence, the inspector … him with the crime.
a. accused c. charged b. suspected d. blamed
Task 7. QUIZ. Choose the best alternative to complete the sentences.
1. The Director of Public Prosecutions decided there was not sufficient evidence to allow him to … action against the man suspected of gold smuggling.
a. allow b. take c. make
2. Instead of being sent to prison, the shoplifter was … with a fine.
a. let away b. let off c. let loose
3. Poverty frequently … people to crime.
a. brings b. compels c. drives
4. Sally was … of her purse by two young men.
a. robbed b. taken c. stolen
5. The judge … the murderer to life imprisonment.
a. prosecuted b. sentenced c. convicted
6. They … me for causing the accident although it wasn’t my fault.
a. acquitted b. blamed c. charged
7. Alan Sampson acted as a double …, spying for one country while pretending to spy for another.
a. agent b. spy c. traitor
8. The police arrested him and … him with murder.
a. accused b. blamed c. charged
9. A … of $ 10,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest of the bank robbers.
a. reward b. prize c. award
10. The murderer shot his victim in cold ….
a. anger b. blood c. revenge
11. The alarm … and the police realized that there was an intruder in the empty house.
a. went off b. set off c. rang off
12. Ann was released from prison and now she is … probation.
a. under b. on c. after
13. Sarah delivered a/an … appeal to the court and asked for mercy.
a. sensational b. sentimental c. emotional
14. The police arrested Jack and put him into ….
a. custody b. detention c. prison
15. In most countries, the … penalty has been abolished.
a. capital b. death c. execution
16. The judge in the court was wearing a ….
a. hairpiece b. head-dress c. wig
17. The witness heard his name ….
a. call b. calls c. called
Task 8. Read the text and cross out 15 unnecessary words.
Northern Ireland Courts
The marked structure of Northern Ireland courts is broadly similar to that in England and Wales. The day-to-day work stained of dealing summarily with minor cases is carried out by magistrates’ courts presided over by a full-time, legally observed qualified resident magistrate. Young offenders under 17 and young people under 17 who need care, protection
and control are have dealt with by juvenile courts consisting of the resident filed magistrate and two lay members (at least one of whom must be a woman) heard specially qualified to deal with juveniles. Defended appeals from magistrates’ courts are having heard by the county court. The Crown Court deals with criminal trials on foreseen indictment. It is to served by High Court and county court judges. Proceedings are been heard before a single judge, and all contested cases, other than those involving being offences specified under emergency legislation, proven take place before a jury. Appeals denied heard from the Crown Court against conviction or smashed sentence are heard by the Northern Ireland
Court of Appeal. Procedures for a further appeal to the House of Lords are similar to those in England and Wales.
Task 9. Translate the sentences into English.
1. Греки верили, что законы создаются людьми для людей.
2. Первый написанный греческий свод законов, которые были ужасно жестокими, был составлен Драконтом в седьмом веке до новой эры.
3. Новый, более гуманный свод законов был составлен Солоном спустя несколько десятилетий.
4. Римское право основывалось на обычаях и традициях.
5. Суд присяжных, древняя греческая традиция, был сохранен в новом своде законов Солона.
6. Кодекс Наполеона оказал влияние на законы многих стран Европы и Южной Америки.
7. Жестокий принцип мести «глаз за глаз, зуб за зуб» соблюдался в кодексе Хаммурапи.
8. Во время второго чтения законопроект подвергается тщательному рассмотрению.
9. Парламентское право может быть использовано, чтобы отменить нормы общего права или внести поправки в него.
10. Прецедентное право возникает из обсуждений дел в ходе судебного рассмотрения и может быть найдено в решениях судов.
11. Общее право основывается на предыдущих судебных решениях и обычаях.
12. Законы, которые приняты в парламенте, толкуются судами, но изменения в самом законе принимаются в парламенте.
13. Судей в Англии обычно выбирают из старших барристеров.
14. Конституция показывает, как ценности страны будут защищены.
Task 10. Substitute a suitable word or phrase for the part of each sentence in italics.
1. A group of 12 ordinary people who listen to details of a case in court and decide whether someone is guilty or not trial is a unique British institution.
2. There has been a steady increase in offences which are triable by someone who judges less serious crimes in a court of law.
3. The general rule is that all someone who saw an accident or a crime and can describe what happened must give evidence on oath.
4. Facts, objects or signs that make you believe that something exists or is true is the means by which the facts in issue are proved.
5. Where the offence is not serious and the accused is likely to appear when required an official order to appear in a court of law is issued informing him of the time, date and place of the trial.
6. In a criminal case, the federal, state or municipal government brings the action in the name of its citizens against the person in a court of law who has been accused of doing something illegal.
7. The usual method of commencing an action is to issue a document from a court that orders someone to do or not to do something.
5. The muggers attacked the pensioner and … with her money.
a) made up b) stood around c) got away
6. You are … with murder under aggravating circumstances.
a) convicted b) charged c) found
7. Legal custom grants each losing … one appeal.
a) litigant b) magistrate c) judge
8. A local authority is known to be responsible for … decisions in this district.
a) doing b) making c) coming
9. During the … the jury sit in silence, listening carefully to all the witnesses.
a) try b) tried c) trial
10. A magistrates’ court normally consists of three ….
a) Law Lords b) prosecutors c) Justices of the Peace
11. When the judge had finished his summing up, he asked the jury to consider their ….
a) verdict b) inquiry c) answer
12. As far as court work or litigation is concerned, the … prepares the case
a) judge b) solicitor c) Vice Chancellor
13. The … is a lawyer who has the right to speak as an advocate in higher law courts.
a) magistrate b) barrister c) judge
14. The system of justice in England and Wales is … in nature.
a) professional b) united c) adversarial
15. You are not obliged to say anything, but anything you do say will be … and may be used in evidence against you.
a) taken down b) got away c) made off
16. Tribunal chaired by one who is legally qualified often consists of … people.
a) lay b) simple c) fair
17. When a … is found guilty he may appeal to the local Crown court.
a) criminal b) defendant c) witness
18. Cases … in the Magistrates’ courts can be appealed to the Crown Court.
a) heard b) investigated c) created
19. The … of the cases in the International Court of Justice is under the control of President or Vice-President elected by the Court itself.
a) observing b) listening c) hearing
TASK 11. Answer the following questions:
1. What does a juror’s working day depend on?
2. What is a settlement?
3. When and why are jurors sent out of the courtroom during trial?
Courtroom Personnel
In addition to the lawyers and the judge, three other people will play an important role in the trial. The court reporter, who sits close to the witnesses and the judge, puts down every word that is spoken during the trial and also may record the proceedings on tape. The clerk, who sits right below the judge, keeps track of all documents and exhibits and notes down important events in the trial. The bailiff helps to keep the trial running smoothly. The jury is in the custody of the bailiff, who sees to the jurors comfort and convenience and helps them if they are having any problems related to jury service.
TASK 12. Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following words and expressions:
1. судебный секретарь 2. вещественное доказательство
3. вести запись 4. судебный пристав 5. протоколист суда
Task 13. Choose the correct item.
1. Even though the crime … keeps going on, society is soft on criminals.
a) case b) rate c) numbers
2. At the lowest level of the state courts there are courts of … jurisdiction.
a) limited b) general c) exclusive
3. State courts of general jurisdiction are … to hear more serious criminal and civil cases.
a) given b) empowered c) chosen
4. The idea in identification parades is that a … will pick out the person responsible for the crime from a group of specially selected people.
a) witness b) lawyer c) magistrate
5. Appeals, if made, must be made promptly. They soon become ….
a) a) costly b) time-barred c) illegal
Task 14. Translate the sentences.
2. Мы тщательно расследовали дело об убийстве, собрав все необходимые улики.
3. Смит был удивлен, так как он никогда не слышал, чтобы подобные вещи спрашивали в суде.
4. После того как свидетельские показания собраны, решение о дальнейшей процедуре принимается судебным обвинителем.
5. Когда было объявлено решение суда, подсудимый, не согласный с его решением, направил апелляцию.
6. Я хочу, чтобы мое дело в суде представлял мистер Браун.
7. Так как дверь зала судебных заседаний была открыта, мы заглянули в нее.
8. После того как истец подаст апелляцию, ее может принять и рассмотреть только суд второй инстанции.
9. Он наблюдал, как происходило обследование места преступления.
10. Им нужно, чтобы документы были готовы через день.
Task 15. Rewrite the sentences in the passive voice, if possible.
1. In all societies prescriptive laws regulate relations between people.
2. Sometimes people can break the rules without suffering any penalty.
3. Members of every community have made laws for themselves in selfprotection.
4. Every country tries to provide laws which will help its people to live
safely and comfortably.
5. No country has been successful in producing laws which are entirely satisfactory.
6. Parliament makes laws and courts interpret them, but Parliament makes all changes in the law itself.
7. County courts deal with civil cases (for example, divorce or bankruptcy cases).
8. The legal system also includes juvenile courts (which deal with offenders under seventeen) and coroners’ courts (which investigate violent, sudden or unnatural deaths).
9. King Hammurabi who gave the world its first great code of laws, lived some two thousand years before Christ and several centuries before the Israelites received the Ten Commandments from Moses.
10. In order that “the strong should not oppress the weak, and that widows and orphans should be rightly dealt with,” Hammurabi had a pillar of stone with 282 legal precepts.
11. They prominently placed the stone, eight feet in height, in the city of Babylon so that all who lived or visited there could have no excuse for not knowing the laws of the country.
12. Legends about Hammurabi and the code of laws which he devised survived.
13. But the world might still be wondering if King Hammurabi really set up the early concepts of justice from which our modern law derives.
14. One can see a great stone pillar in the Louvre museum in Paris that stood in the centre of Babylon more than four thousand years ago and inscribed on it is Hammurabi’s code of laws.
