How to Appeal a Civil Court Decision

U.S. law provides multiple remedies for criminals who are convicted on criminal charges, but there are fewer options if you want to appeal a civil court decision. Since these trials are usually based on monetary awards and carry now criminal punishments, the laws are far more stringent about where, when, how and why you can appeal such a case. If you feel that a civil lawsuit has been decided in error, you can appeal the decision, but you have to make sure you follow the law.

Make a Fast Decision

In most cases, you will have only 30 days from the date on which the verdict was entered to appeal a civil court decision. This means that you have to make quick decisions if you think you might want to appeal, and file a notice with the court as quickly as possible. The only time it will be different is if you are suing a branch of the U.S. government, in which case the law gives you 60 days to file your notice instead of 30.

File the Appeal

Even if you represented yourself in the initial proceeding, you should always hire an attorney if you want to appeal a civil court proceeding. He or she can draft a document in legal language that explains the grounds for your appeal, and expresses the desire to have the case heard by an appellate court. If you try to do this yourself, you might wind up with no time left when the court rejects your paperwork.

Contact Other Parties

If your case was part of a civil action or if there were multiple parties listed on your side of the courtroom, each person must sign the paperwork for an appeal if they want to be included in the decision. This is one of the finer points when you appeal a civil court decision, and shouldn't be overlooked. If you win on appeal and the other parties were not included, they won't benefit from the new judgment.

Counter-Appeal