civil action
Non-criminal legal proceeding
A civil action is a lawsuit between private parties or entities, as opposed to a criminal prosecution brought by the government.
The plaintiff seeks compensation, an injunction, or other remedy rather than criminal punishment: She filed a civil action against her former employer for wrongful termination.
Most court cases—contract disputes, personal injury claims, divorces—are civil actions.
Civil court proceeding
- complaintExpression of discontent
- summonsFormal court notification
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
filing · docket · pleadings · discovery · deposition · testimony · subpoena · injunction
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- litigantParty in lawsuit
- petitionerOne who formally requests
- respondentOne who gives answers
claimant · counsel · attorney · judge · jury · witness · expert witness · co-defendant
Compensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
- restraining orderCourt-enforced avoidance mandate
settlement · redress · remedy · reparation · award · punitive damages · consent decree
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- breachBreaking of agreement
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
malpractice · fraud · liability · wrongful termination · discrimination · personal injury · property damage · nuisance
Resolved dispute or colony
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
verdict · judgment · dismissal · summary judgment · default judgment · consent decree · out-of-court · plea agreement
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
defendant · filing · docket · pleadings · discovery · deposition · testimony · subpoena · injunction · damages
plaintiff
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- litigantParty in lawsuit
- petitionerOne who formally requests
respondent · claimant · counsel · attorney · judge · jury · witness · expert witness · co-defendant · intervenor
damages
Compensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- injunctionCourt-ordered behavioral requirement
restraining order · settlement · redress · remedy · reparation · award · punitive damages · consent decree
tort
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- breachBreaking of agreement
- contractEnforceable written agreement
defamation · malpractice · fraud · liability · wrongful termination · discrimination · personal injury · property damage · nuisance · trespass
settlement
Resolved dispute or colony
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
negotiation · verdict · judgment · dismissal · summary judgment · default judgment · consent decree · out-of-court · plea agreement
- civil trialsplaintiff, lawsuit, jury trial, bench trial, jury
- personal injurypersonal injury, tort, injury claim, bodily harm, harm
- nuisancespest, ants, bugs, flies, roaches
- protestdemonstration, walkout, picket, protest march, sit-in
- boycottsboycott, consumer boycott, brand boycott, bus boycott, sports boycott
- defamationslander, libel, defamation, defamatory statement, defaming
civil actioncriminal prosecution
Government's legal action against accused
criminal case · criminal trial · criminal complaint · criminal charge · indictment
civil actionmediation
Intervention to resolve conflict
arbitration · out-of-court settlement · informal settlement · settlement · negotiation
action, civil, civic, civilian, civilized, civilization, uncivil, civility, civics