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How civil lawsuits usually end

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 7 sources

Short answer

Most civil lawsuits end without a trial. In the US district courts, 0.4 percent of civil cases terminated in the 12 months to 30 September 2025 reached trial, by the count in Table C-4 3. Cases end through settlement, dismissal, default judgment or a decision on the papers such as summary judgment 2. In the County Court of England and Wales, 368,000 judgments were made in April to June 2026 and 94% were default judgments 5. There were 12,000 trials in that quarter 5.
US civil cases terminated, year to 30 September 2025 (Table C-4)
407,379 3
Share of those reaching trial (Table C-4)
0.4 percent 3
County Court claims issued, April to June 2026
571,000 5
Claims defended, same quarter
82,000 5
Default judgments, same quarter
94% of 368,000 judgments 5
Trials, same quarter
12,000 5

The main ways a civil case ends

The US federal courts encourage mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Absent a settlement, the court will schedule a trial 1. The US courts glossary defines the main endings as follows 2.

  • Settlement: the parties resolve their dispute without having a trial 2.
  • Dismissal: a dismissal with prejudice prevents an identical lawsuit from being filed later. A dismissal without prejudice allows a later filing 2.
  • Default judgment: a judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the defendant's failure to answer 2.
  • Summary judgment: a decision made on the basis of statements and evidence presented for the record without a trial 2.
  • Judgment after trial: a judgment is the official decision of a court finally resolving the dispute between the parties 2.

United States federal courts

Table C-4 of Judicial Business 2025 sorts the 407,379 civil cases terminated in the 12 months to 30 September 2025 by the stage at which they ended 3. Most ended with court action before pretrial 3.

Stage at which the case ended, Table C-4, year to 30 September 2025Cases
No court action 360,674 3
Court action before pretrial 3318,461 3
Court action during or after pretrial 326,563 3
Trial 31,681, of which 1,182 jury and 499 non-jury 3
Percent reaching trial 30.4 3

Two counts for the same US year

The Judicial Business 2025 narrative reports 407,539 civil terminations and 3,377 civil trials for the same 12 months 4. Table C-4 shows 407,379 terminations and 1,681 cases reaching trial 3. The two publications use different counts. This page shows each figure as published 3,4.

The table records the stage a case reached. It does not say which side won 3.

England and Wales County Court

In April to June 2026, 571,000 claims were issued in the County Court, up 11% on the same quarter of 2025 5. Money claims were 495,000 of these. The number of claims defended was 82,000 5.

There were 368,000 judgments in the quarter, up 26% on a year earlier. Of these, 94% were default judgments. Judgments by admission numbered 15,000 5.

There were 12,000 trials in the quarter. Of these, 8,900 (75%) were small claims trials and 3,000 (25%) were fast, intermediate and multi-track trials 5.

The GOV.UK guide says a claimant can request a judgment if the defendant does not respond or refuses to pay 6. If the defendant denies owing money or disputes the amount, there may be a court hearing, and the parties may be offered or required to attend mediation 6.

After judgment: getting paid

A judgment is not the same as payment. In England and Wales a claimant can ask the court to send bailiffs under a warrant of control, take money from the debtor's wages, charge the debtor's land or property, or freeze money in the debtor's bank or business account 7. A judgment cannot be enforced if the debtor has a Breathing Space 7.

In April to June 2026, 73,000 warrants were issued in the County Court, up 30% from 56,000. Warrants of control were 82% of these 5.

Common questions

What percentage of lawsuits go to trial?

In the US district courts, 0.4 percent of civil cases terminated in the year to 30 September 2025 reached trial 3. In England and Wales, there were 12,000 County Court trials in April to June 2026, against 571,000 claims issued in the same quarter. The two figures cover different cases and are not a rate 5.

What is a default judgment?

It is a judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the defendant's failure to answer 2. In the County Court, 94% of judgments in April to June 2026 were default judgments 5.

What does it mean when a case settles?

The parties resolve their dispute without having a trial 2. US federal courts encourage mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution 1.

What happens if a defendant ignores a money claim in England?

The claimant can ask the court to order payment by requesting a judgment 6. If the money is still not paid, enforcement options include a warrant of control and an attachment of earnings 7.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@enforcementoutcomes.com.

Sources

  1. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: Civil Cases
  2. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: Glossary
  3. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: Table C-4, U.S. District Courts Civil Cases Terminated, by Nature of Suit and Action Taken, 12-month period ending 30 September 2025
  4. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: U.S. District Courts Judicial Business 2025
  5. Ministry of Justice: Civil justice statistics quarterly: April to June 2026 (3 September 2026)
  6. GOV.UK: Make a court claim for money: After you make your claim
  7. GOV.UK: Make a court claim for money: Enforce a judgment

Related

  • US federal civil case outcomes

    Filings, terminations, trials and median times for civil cases in the US district courts, from Judicial Business 2025 and court management statistics.

  • Civil court outcomes in England and Wales

    Claims, defences, default judgments, trials, warrants and judicial review in England and Wales, from Ministry of Justice statistics for April to June 2026.

  • Settlements without admission explained

    What neither admit nor deny settlements mean, the SEC's May 2026 change, and how the FCA, EU, ASIC and French prosecutors treat admissions.

  • How long court cases take

    Published median times for civil and criminal cases in the US, England and Wales, the EU, Canada and Australia, with the period each figure covers.

  • Appeals and overturned decisions

    What affirmed, reversed, remanded and quashed mean, and how often appeals succeed in US federal courts, the EU Court of Justice and English criminal cases.