Boating Accident

[Mr. V]

This trial is all about money. More specifically, it is about Erica trying to avoid a large judgement in Civil Court for causing the death of Stephanie B. Unfortunately, she was found guilty of negligence by a jury of her peers and she now will face the consequences which will likely include both jail time and a subsequent monetary judgement.

Whether a large civil judgment is rendered is essentially independent of the outcome of the criminal trial.

True, a guilty verdict would make a civil judgment easier to prove, but were Erica to have been adjudged Not Guilty of the crime, she'd still face the prospect of a civil judgment in a different action, i.e. in a lawsuit.

A criminal case and a civil lawsuit are two different things.