A verdict is a decision that a jury or judge reaches at the end of a civil or criminal trial
Civil Verdicts
In a civil matter between a plaintiff and defendant, the verdict will state which of the two parties prevailed. If the plaintiff prevails, the verdict includes an award of monetary damages. In the case of a verdict in favor of the defendant, there is no award because the plaintiff lost the case.
Criminal Verdicts
Criminal verdicts will either be guilty as charged or not guilty, called an acquittal.
Where No Verdict Is Reached – Hung Jury
If the jury cannot reach a verdict, the matter will end in a mistrial, and the case must be retried.
