A key difference between civil and criminal proceedings is the burden of proof. In a criminal trial, the accused must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil trial, the standard for liability is a “preponderance of the evidence.” This simply means that the jury believes it is more likely than not that the defendant did what you claim. In addition, all 12 jurors must agree on a defendant's guilt in a criminal trial. In a civil lawsuit, only nine of 12 jurors need to find the defendant liable in order for you to be awarded damages.