What do crime shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order all have in common? They all show court trials featuring juries for nearly every case. In reality, less than 1% of civil trials ever see a jury.

Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a case against Arkansas because the state passed a law that allows insurance companies the liberty to refuse treatment of transgender individuals. A law like this, though not criminal, can still be taken to court and overruled. Civil litigation is a lawsuit against an action that has caused some injury to a person. At Hickey and Hull Law Partners, we handle civil cases and help you get the justice you deserve.

More than 80 percent of Americans use social media nearly every day, so there’s no question why you might take to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to document your daily experiences. And although you certainly wouldn’t be the only person in the world doing so, you should avoid posting about legal issues online — especially if you’re the plaintiff amid a civil lawsuit. Here’s why.

Stay cool, calm and collected. Litigation can be a long and stressful process that often becomes highly emotional. One of the biggest mistakes you can make, though, is to overreact to a lawsuit. While you should certainly be diligent with your response, you should not allow the lawsuit to consume all of your attention.