Legal Definitions - veredicto

A "veredicto," commonly known as a verdict in English, is the formal decision or finding made by a jury, or by a judge in a trial without a jury (known as a bench trial), at the end of a legal case. This decision answers the specific questions of fact presented during the trial and determines the guilt or innocence of a defendant in a criminal case, or the liability and damages in a civil case. It represents the conclusion of the trial proceedings and is a critical step before a judgment is formally entered by the court.

• Example 1 (Criminal Case): After several days of intense testimony in a felony assault trial, the twelve members of the jury retired to deliberate. Following a full day of discussion, they returned to the courtroom and announced their veredicto: "We find the defendant, Ms. Rodriguez, not guilty of the charges." This formal declaration meant that the prosecution had not proven Ms. Rodriguez's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to her acquittal.

• Example 2 (Civil Case - Property Dispute): In a lawsuit concerning a boundary dispute between two neighbors, the judge, presiding over a bench trial, heard all the evidence, including property deeds and surveyor testimonies. After reviewing the facts, the judge issued a veredicto, ruling that the fence line claimed by Mr. Henderson was indeed the correct legal boundary, thereby resolving the disagreement over the property line in his favor.

• Example 3 (Civil Case - Product Liability): A group of consumers sued a manufacturing company, alleging that a defect in their new appliance caused significant property damage. After hearing expert testimony and examining evidence of the product's design, the jury delivered a veredicto finding the manufacturing company liable for the damages due to a design flaw and awarded the plaintiffs a collective sum of $250,000 to cover their losses. This decision established the company's responsibility for the faulty product and determined the compensation owed.