After unsuccessful attempts to solve a complaint out of court, many consumers will need to advance their issues into the legal realm by filing a lawsuit against the guilty party. In the United States, consumers are granted with rights by law - rights which, if gone unfulfilled by the seller or servicer, allow them to take legal action. Before taking a case against the guilty party, it is important that the consumer verify that a violation of this law actually took place. Numerous acts of federal consumer protection laws exist, in addition to the many that are also in place at the state level. Laws and their legal significance to consumers can be accessed with the Federal Trade Commission or state consumer protection departments. It is also advisable for a complaint to be filed with the Federal Trade Commission and/or state consumer protection departments, officially documenting the violation and efforts that were made to stop said violation. To begin the actual lawsuit, a case is normally filed with the district court that possesses jurisdiction in the consumer's area/area of offense. A determination will be made by the court, including possible punitive damages that could result if the case ends in the consumer's favor.