Who pays court and lawyer fees if you are found guilty in a civil lawsuit?
Respondents are not found “guilty.” That word is usually reserved for criminal trials. They may be found “liable” or “at fault” or some similar expression. In my jurisdiction, respondents who lose their cases are usually required to pay “triple damages,” the legal fees of the plaintiff, and some sort of punitive damages, which are based upon the seriousness of the bad behavior and the ability of the respondent to pay.
