Litigated

Litigated refers to a dispute or disagreement that has been brought before a court of law for a formal decision. When a matter is litigated, it means that parties involved are pursuing legal action against each other, seeking a resolution through the judicial process. This typically involves the filing of lawsuits, presenting evidence, making arguments, and ultimately receiving a judgment or order from a judge or jury.

The process of litigation can be complex and time-consuming, often involving various stages such as discovery, motions, settlement negotiations, and trial. The outcome of a litigated matter can have significant consequences for the parties involved, including financial penalties, injunctions, or other legal remedies. It is a formal and structured method for resolving disputes when informal methods like negotiation or mediation have failed. The term can be used as a past tense verb or an adjective, describing something that has undergone or is undergoing legal proceedings. For example, one might say "the contract was litigated" or "a litigated case."