term:

Litigate

litigate vb

-gat·ed
-gat·ing
[Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare, from lit-, lis lawsuit + agere to drive]
vi
: to seek resolution of a legal contest by judicial process [chose to rather than settle]
vt
: to make the subject of a suit [ a claim]
;broadly
: to contest or resolve in court [ an insanity defense]
lit·i·ga·ble [li-tə-gə-bəl]
adj

lit·i·ga·tion [li-tə-gā-shən]
n

lit·i·ga·tion·al [-shə-nəl]
adj

lit·i·ga·to·ry [li-tə-gə-tōr-ē]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.