Legal Definitions - jury fee

A jury fee is a specific amount of money that a party involved in a civil lawsuit must pay to the court if they wish to have their case decided by a jury, rather than solely by a judge. This payment is typically required when a party formally requests a jury trial and helps to cover some of the administrative costs associated with selecting and managing a jury.

• Example 1: Personal Injury Claim

  After being injured in a slip-and-fall accident, Maria decided to sue the property owner for negligence. Her attorney advised her that a jury might be more inclined to award higher damages for her pain and suffering than a judge alone. To ensure her case would be heard by a panel of citizens, Maria's legal team filed a demand for a jury trial and submitted the required jury fee to the court. This payment secured her right to have a jury determine the facts and the amount of compensation.

• Example 2: Commercial Dispute Defense

  A software development company, "CodeMasters Inc.," was sued by a former client for an alleged failure to deliver a promised product. CodeMasters' management felt that the technical complexities of the project would be better understood and fairly evaluated by a diverse group of jurors rather than a single judge. To pursue this strategy, CodeMasters' lawyers filed a request for a jury trial and paid the necessary jury fee, ensuring that their defense would be presented to a jury.

• Example 3: Waiving the Right to a Jury Trial

  In a dispute over a home renovation contract, the homeowner initially considered requesting a jury trial. However, after reviewing the court's procedural rules and the associated costs, they realized that paying the substantial jury fee would significantly increase their overall legal expenses. Deciding to prioritize cost savings and believing a judge could impartially assess the evidence, the homeowner chose not to pay the jury fee. As a result, their case proceeded as a "bench trial," where only the judge heard the evidence and made the final decision, effectively waiving their right to a jury.