It is very awkward. Both sides tend to ignore each other when they walk in and out of the courtroom and during breaks. It is unnatural and can be quite uncomfortable for the parties to the lawsuit. People who once had great trust  with each other now sit side-by-side, barely looking at each other. People who may have been friends at one time now look with scorn upon the person or persons sitting across the room.

Our system of justice allows the person bringing the lawsuit to be present at all times in the courtroom as well as the person who has been sued to sit in and participate in the entire process.
Gerry practices law exclusively in the State of New York. Within New York he practices primarily in the following counties: New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk. Technically, Brooklyn is known as "Kings County," and Manhattan and New York City are known as "New York County." Staten Island is known as "Richmond County." These counties make up the New York metropolitan area.