Definition

1. Verb:
   • To institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against: To bring a dispute or claim before a court of law for a legal decision.
   • To engage in legal proceedings: To be involved in a lawsuit, either as the party bringing the case (plaintiff) or defending against it (defendant).

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The company decided to litigate the breach of contract. (The company decided to take the breach of contract to court.)
  • They are prepared to litigate if the negotiations fail. (They are prepared to engage in a lawsuit if the negotiations are unsuccessful.)
  • Individuals have the right to litigate to protect their intellectual property. (Individuals have the right to initiate legal action to protect their intellectual property.)

Advanced Usage

• "To litigate a matter": To pursue a specific issue or dispute through the court system.

  • After the accident, they chose to litigate the matter of liability. (After the accident, they chose to settle the question of who was responsible through a lawsuit.)

• "Willingness to litigate": The readiness or inclination to use the courts to resolve disputes.

  • The firm's willingness to litigate deters frivolous complaints. (The firm's readiness to go to court discourages baseless complaints.)

Variants and Related Words

• Litigation (n): The process of taking legal action; a lawsuit.

  • The lengthy litigation exhausted both parties. (The long lawsuit tired out both sides.)

• Litigator (n): A lawyer who specializes in taking cases to court.

  • She is a skilled litigator with many trial victories. (She is a skilled trial lawyer with many court victories.)

• Litigant (n): A person involved in a lawsuit.

  • The litigants awaited the judge's verdict. (The people involved in the case waited for the judge's decision.)

Synonyms

• Sue: To institute legal proceedings against someone.
• Prosecute: To institute and conduct legal proceedings against someone, typically in a criminal case.
• Take to court: To initiate a lawsuit against someone.

Related Phrases

• "To litigate aggressively": To pursue a lawsuit in a very forceful and determined manner.

  • The corporation is known to litigate aggressively against patent infringement. (The corporation is known to pursue patent violation lawsuits with great force.)

• "Cost to litigate": The financial expense associated with pursuing a lawsuit.

  • The high cost to litigate often leads to out-of-court settlements. (The high expense of a lawsuit often results in agreements made without a trial.)

Verb

1. institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
   • He was warned that the district attorney would process him
   • She actioned the company for discrimination
2. engage in legal proceedings