Since 1998, Citizens for Justice has provided individuals who may lack the financial means or resources to retain an attorney with an alternative forum in which their claims can be heard, their evidence considered, and their grievances presented for review.
The process is straightforward. Any individual who believes that he or she has been wronged by a company, organization, or individual, and who feels unable to obtain meaningful redress through conventional means, may submit a claim to Citizens for Justice. Our purpose is to provide an accessible and impartial process through which individuals may present their case and have it considered by a jury of their peers.
For individuals who believe justice is beyond their financial reach, or who have been unable to obtain meaningful relief through the state or federal court system, Citizens for Justice provides an alternative forum in which their allegations and supporting evidence may be presented and evaluated.
The process begins when an individual contacts Citizens for Justice and provides a basic statement describing the claim and the circumstances giving rise to it. If, after an initial review, we determine that the matter is appropriate for our process, the claimant is asked to submit the documents, communications, photographs, recordings, and other evidence supporting the allegations.
Citizens for Justice then notifies the responding party that a claim has been made against them and that a case is being prepared for presentation to a jury. The responding party is given an opportunity to submit evidence, documentation, statements, or other materials supporting its position or defense. Our objective is to provide both sides with a fair opportunity to present their respective positions before the matter is submitted for consideration.
Citizens for Justice maintains a database of more than 500,000 vetted jurors. That database has been developed and expanded since the organization’s inception in 1998.
Until recently, evidence submitted by the respective parties was posted publicly on the Citizens for Justice website during the deliberation period, which generally lasted approximately two weeks. Jurors were able to review the submitted materials before reaching their conclusions.
Citizens for Justice has now changed this procedure. We concluded that publicly posting a claimant’s evidence could place that individual at a disadvantage if the dispute subsequently became the subject of litigation in state or federal court. Public disclosure could permit an opposing party to review the claimant’s evidence before that evidence would otherwise be required to be disclosed through the applicable legal discovery process.
Accordingly, evidence submitted in connection with a Citizens for Justice proceeding is no longer routinely made available to the general public. Instead, relevant evidentiary materials are distributed directly to participating jurors for their review and consideration. This procedure allows jurors to evaluate the evidence while reducing unnecessary public disclosure of materials that could later become relevant to formal litigation.
Citizens for Justice is intended to provide individuals with an opportunity to be heard, to present their evidence, and to have their claims considered through a structured and impartial process.
If you have questions concerning Citizens for Justice or how the process works, please feel free to contact us.