litigation
n. uncountablen. the process of taking a disagreement to a court of law so a judge can decide who is right. It is a formal way for people or companies to solve legal problems.
n. the process of taking legal action through a court system to resolve a dispute. Often used to describe civil rather than criminal proceedings.
The company is currently involved in litigation over a patent.
After months of failed negotiations, the two businesses decided that litigation was the only way to settle the contract dispute.
The threat of protracted litigation often forces a settlement between parties who wish to avoid the escalating costs and public scrutiny of a full trial.
Borrowed from Latin lītigātiō, equivalent to litigate + -ion.
Commonly follows verbs like 'commence', 'avoid', or 'threaten'; often functions as a modifier in phrases like 'litigation costs'.