PRO-LEGAL

Final check — Consumer Legal & Litigation Basics (US)

Answer the 36 questions. You need 80% or more to pass. You can retry as many times as you like.

Question 1In the US legal system, what is the main difference between a civil case and a criminal case?A civil case resolves disputes between parties (often for money), while a criminal case is the government prosecuting someone for breaking the lawCivil cases always send people to prison, while criminal cases only award moneyCivil cases are decided only by juries, criminal cases only by judgesThere is no real difference; the terms are interchangeable

Question 2The standard of proof a plaintiff must meet to win a typical civil lawsuit is:Beyond a reasonable doubtA preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not)Absolute certaintyA unanimous confession

Question 3What does 'jurisdiction' generally refer to?The amount of money you can recover in a lawsuitA court's authority to hear a particular case and decide itThe lawyer's hourly feeThe deadline for filing an appeal

Question 4Which situation most strongly suggests you should hire a licensed attorney rather than handling it yourself?A $40 dispute over a parking refundYou are facing serious criminal charges that could mean jail timeReturning a defective toaster to a storeAsking a neighbor to lower their music

Question 5For a contract to be enforceable, it generally requires offer, acceptance, and what other core element?A notary stamp on every pageConsideration (something of value exchanged by each side)Approval by a judge before signingAt least five witnesses

Question 6In contract law, 'breach' means:Successfully completing all promised obligationsFailing to perform a duty required by the contract without a valid legal excuseRenegotiating the price with both parties' consentAdding a new party to the agreement

Question 7A friend says 'I might sell you my bike for around $100 sometime.' Why is this probably not yet a binding contract?Bikes cannot be the subject of a contractThe terms are too vague and there is no clear, definite offer that was acceptedVerbal agreements can never be contractsContracts under $500 are illegal

Question 8Negligence, a common basis for personal injury claims, generally requires showing a duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation, and:Actual damages or harm sufferedA criminal conviction of the defendantA signed contract between the partiesProof the defendant intended to cause harm

Question 9In a personal injury case, 'pain and suffering' is an example of which type of damages?Punitive damages awarded to punish the defendantNon-economic (general) damages for harm that is hard to measure in dollarsCourt filing fees the plaintiff paidOut-of-pocket medical bills only

Question 10What is a statute of limitations?A cap on how much money a court can awardA legal deadline within which a lawsuit must be filed, or the claim is generally lostThe minimum age to sign a contractA rule limiting how many witnesses you may call

Question 11Why does it matter to act before the statute of limitations runs out?Once the deadline passes, a court will usually dismiss the case no matter how strong it isFiling late automatically doubles your awardDeadlines only apply to criminal casesThe deadline can always be waived by simply asking

Question 12What is the primary purpose of a demand letter before filing a lawsuit?To formally state your claim and what you want, often to resolve the matter without going to courtTo officially start a criminal prosecutionTo request that the judge be replacedTo waive your right to ever sue

Question 13Small claims court is generally designed for:Major felony trials with juriesRelatively low-dollar disputes, with simpler procedures and often no lawyers requiredDisputes only between large corporationsFederal constitutional questions

Question 14A key practical limit of small claims court is that:There is a maximum dollar amount you can sue for, which varies by stateYou must have at least three attorneys presentOnly the government can file a case thereCases there can never be appealed under any circumstances

Question 15'At-will employment,' the default in most US states, generally means:Either the employer or employee can end the job at any time, for any legal reason or no reasonAn employee can only be fired with a court orderThe job is guaranteed for lifeThe employer must give one year of notice

Question 16Even under at-will employment, firing an employee is generally illegal if it is:Because the employee was frequently late without excuseBased on a protected characteristic such as race, religion, sex, or disabilityBecause the company is cutting costs and downsizingBecause the employee's role was eliminated

Question 17An employee is not paid the overtime they earned. This is best described as:A wage claim under wage-and-hour lawsA criminal assault claimA breach of warranty claimA defamation claim

Question 18In a contingency fee arrangement, the attorney is typically paid:A flat fee due before any work beginsA percentage of the money recovered, and usually nothing if the case is lostBy the hour regardless of outcomeOnly by the court, never by the client

Question 19A 'retainer' paid to a lawyer is best described as:A final bonus paid after winningAn upfront payment, often held and drawn against as the lawyer does workA fee paid only if you lose the caseA tax charged by the court

Question 20A contingency fee structure is most commonly used in which kind of case?Personal injury claims seeking money damagesDrafting a simple willDefending against criminal chargesReviewing a residential lease

Question 21When deciding whether to settle or litigate, a major advantage of settling is usually:It guarantees a larger award than a trialIt provides a certain, faster outcome and avoids the cost and risk of trialIt always sets a public legal precedentIt forces the other side to admit guilt publicly

Question 22A 'liability waiver' clause in a contract typically does what?Increases the price of the goodsAttempts to limit or release one party from responsibility for certain harmsAutomatically cancels the contract after one yearRequires both parties to hire the same lawyer

Question 23An 'arbitration clause' in a consumer contract generally means:Disputes must be resolved through a private arbitrator instead of in courtThe consumer automatically wins any disputeThe company waives all its rightsDisputes can only go to the US Supreme Court

Question 24A car repair shop did shoddy work and refuses to fix it or refund you. A reasonable first step is often to:Immediately file a federal lawsuitSend a clear written demand describing the problem and the resolution you wantDamage the shop's property in returnDo nothing because you have no rights

Question 25Which document typically formally starts a civil lawsuit?A demand letterA complaint (or petition) filed with the courtA settlement agreementA jury verdict

Question 26In a negligence claim, 'comparative negligence' rules can:Reduce a plaintiff's recovery in proportion to their own share of faultAutomatically triple the plaintiff's awardSend the defendant to prisonEliminate the need to prove causation

Question 27What is the most accurate way to view the information in this course?As a substitute for hiring a lawyer in your specific caseAs general educational legal literacy, not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney for your situationAs binding rulings that apply to every state identicallyAs a guarantee that you will win any case you file

Question 28During a personal injury settlement, the insurance adjuster's first offer is usually:The absolute maximum they can ever payOften a low starting point intended to be negotiated upwardLegally binding the moment it is madeRequired by law to equal your medical bills exactly

Question 29A written contract you signed has a clause you do not understand. The best approach is to:Ignore it, since unclear clauses are never enforceableSeek clarification, ideally before signing, and consult a lawyer if the stakes are highAssume it means whatever benefits you mostCross it out after signing to cancel it

Question 30In US courts, which generally hears cases involving federal law or disputes between citizens of different states above a dollar threshold?Small claims courtFederal (US district) courtsTraffic courtProbate court only

Question 31You believe a product injured you due to a defect. Before the statute of limitations expires, the wisest move is to:Wait several years to see if symptoms worsenPromptly consult an attorney to evaluate the claim and preserve your rightsPost about it online and assume that counts as filingDestroy the product so the company cannot blame you

Question 32Workplace discrimination law generally protects employees against unfair treatment based on:Protected categories like race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disabilityAny disagreement an employee has with a managerPoor job performance reviewsThe employee's choice of lunch

Question 33What is 'discovery' in the litigation process?The judge's final rulingThe pre-trial phase where each side exchanges evidence and informationThe moment a lawyer is first hiredThe act of paying the court filing fee

Question 34A signed settlement agreement that includes a release of claims generally means:You can keep suing over the same incident as many times as you likeYou typically give up the right to sue again over that same claim in exchange for the settlementThe other side admits criminal guiltThe agreement is automatically void after 30 days

Question 35Why is keeping records (emails, receipts, photos, notes) important in a potential legal dispute?Records have no value once a lawyer is involvedThey serve as evidence that can support your account of what happenedCourts ignore all documents and rely only on testimonyOnly the party with the most paper automatically wins

Question 36When weighing whether to litigate, which factor is most reasonable to consider?The strength of your evidence, likely costs, time, and the realistic range of outcomesOnly how angry you currently feelWhether the courthouse is close to your homeThe color of the opposing lawyer's suit

Final check — Consumer Legal & Litigation Basics (US)

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