What standard is used in civil actions in Georgia State Courts to award damages?

In civil actions in Georgia State Courts, the standard used to award damages is known as the "preponderance of evidence." This standard requires that the evidence presented by one party must be more convincing and likely true than the evidence presented by the opposing party. Essentially, it means that there is a greater than 50% chance that the claim is true based on the evidence available. This standard is lower than that used in criminal cases, where the prosecution must prove its case "beyond a reasonable doubt," reflecting the more serious implications of a criminal conviction.

In the context of civil litigation, the preponderance of evidence allows for a decision-making process that accommodates the typically less severe outcomes of civil cases compared to criminal cases. Other standards, such as "reasonable doubt" or "probable cause," pertain to criminal law or specific legal procedures and do not apply to the assessment of evidence in civil litigation within Georgia.