You may see this in a trial notice, a courtroom update, or hear a lawyer say, "The case is with the jury now" or "The jury has started deliberating." That means the evidence is over, the judge has given the jury instructions, and the jurors have gone to a private room to talk through the case and try to reach a verdict.

During jury deliberation, jurors review the testimony, exhibits, and the judge's instructions on the law. They do not call new witnesses or gather outside information. Their job is to decide what facts they believe, apply the law as instructed, and answer the questions placed before them. In a civil case, that usually means deciding liability and, if the plaintiff wins, damages.

For an injury claim, this stage matters because control shifts away from the lawyers and witnesses. Once deliberations begin, the result may come quickly or take time, depending on how disputed the facts are. A crash in heavy Route 3 traffic, a chain-reaction pileup during a nor'easter, or conflicting medical evidence can leave jurors sorting through hard factual questions.

In Massachusetts civil cases, juries generally do not have to be unanimous. Under Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 48, a verdict may be returned by agreement of five of the six jurors unless the parties agree otherwise. That rule can affect settlement pressure and trial strategy right up to the end.