litigation
noun [ U ]
uk/ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/ us/ˌlɪṱ-/ LAW
the process of causing a disagreement to be discussed in a court of law so that an official decision can be made about it:
The company has consistently denied responsibility, but it agreed to the settlement to avoid the expense of lengthy litigation.
You were told there might be grounds for litigation but the cost would be prohibitive considering the small amount involved.
in litigation The company was in litigation for almost a year.