Disputes & Resolution in the United States

Full guide · Source-checked research100% of statements checked against a source127 checked against an official source2 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-19Not yet professionally reviewed

• Rules on how and when employees can be dismissed come from both federal and state law, and employees dismissed for an illegal reason may have wrongful termination claims under state wrongful discharge laws.

  Federal and state; the content of state law varies.USAGov (official US federal government information portal) · checked 2026-10-18

• The CCPA is enforced by the California Attorney General and the California Privacy Protection Agency; consumers can sue directly only after certain data breaches caused by a failure to maintain reasonable security, with statutory damages of up to 750 US dollars per incident.

  Private action requires written notice and a 30-day cure period before suit. Applies to nonencrypted, nonredacted personal information.State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General · checked 2026-10-18

• No civil action for infringement of copyright in a United States work may be brought until the copyright has been preregistered or registered, or registration has been refused.

  Federal. Applies to United States works; foreign works from treaty countries are not subject to this precondition.Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School · checked 2026-10-18

• The owner of a misappropriated trade secret related to a product or service in interstate or foreign commerce may sue in federal court under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, within three years of discovering the misappropriation.

  Federal; state trade secret laws apply in parallel.Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School · checked 2026-10-18

• The US International Trade Commission can order US Customs to exclude imported goods that infringe US patents or trademarks, and can issue cease and desist orders against named importers, under Section 337 of the Tariff Act.

  Federal; imports only. Also covers trade secret misappropriation, trade dress, passing off and false advertising.United States International Trade Commission · checked 2026-10-18

• The federal court system consists of the Supreme Court, 13 US Courts of Appeals, 94 US District Courts and bankruptcy courts; federal judges are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate and typically hold office for life.

  Federal. Federal courts hear cases under federal law and treaties, admiralty, bankruptcy and other matters assigned by the Constitution and Congress.Administrative Office of the US Courts · checked 2026-10-18

• Each state's constitution and laws establish its own courts, which hear most contract and tort cases, and state court judges are selected in a variety of ways, including election and appointment.

  State level; structure differs by state.Administrative Office of the US Courts · checked 2026-10-18

• Federal district courts can hear civil cases between citizens of different states, or between a citizen of a state and a citizen or subject of a foreign state, where the amount in controversy exceeds 75,000 US dollars, excluding interest and costs.

  Federal (diversity jurisdiction). A corporation is a citizen of every state and foreign state where it is incorporated and of the state or foreign state of its principal place of business.Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School · checked 2026-10-18

Read the full guide: Intellectual property: trademarks, patents, copyright and trade secrets · Courts, arbitration and enforcement