Courts and the Court System
Laws are meaningless if they are not enforced. Companies have to make a barrage of decisions daily, from product development to marketing to strategies to maintain growth, but most of these are based on sound business acumen rather than legal requirements. If a company does violate a law, however, it must be held accountable. That accountability comes in the form of a lawsuit heard in court. Whether a suit is brought by a supplier, customer, employee, shareholder, or other stakeholder, litigation is a fact of life for companies. As future business professionals, being familiar with our court system will lay the foundation for your understanding of the litigation process.
The following will be covered in this chapter:
| Competency | Explain the importance of law to society and to business. Explain the foundational concepts of law. |
| Criteria | Identify the Federal and state court systems |
| Criteria | Describe how courts establish jurisdiction |
| Criteria | Explain alternative dispute resolution options |
