The term pending lawsuits is often used to describe those cases of civil litigation in which the case has entered into the court and is likely to go through but has not yet been ruled upon or settled in a court of law. The case will remain pending until a judge or jury determines the responsibility of the defendant to pay for the damages done to the plaintiff. This term is often used in a context of borrowing against funds from a pending lawsuit settlement. This is done through third party providers and while not considered the most financially wise decision, it can provide some relief to the plaintiff as they wait for the settlement to take place.