Which party bears the burden of proof in a civil case?

In a civil case, the party that brings the lawsuit, known as the plaintiff, bears the burden of proof. This means the plaintiff is responsible for presenting evidence and convincing the court of their claims to a certain standard, usually "preponderance of the evidence." This standard requires the plaintiff to demonstrate that their version of the facts is more likely true than not.

The defendant, on the other hand, does not have the same level of responsibility to prove innocence or disprove the claims; their main role is often to refute the plaintiff's evidence or claims. The judge's role is to oversee the legal proceedings and ensure that the law is applied correctly, while the jury is tasked with evaluating the evidence presented and rendering a verdict based on that evidence. Thus, it is clear that the plaintiff carries the burden of proof in civil litigation contexts.