civil case
Non-criminal court matter
A civil case is a legal dispute between parties seeking resolution of private matters—contracts, property, personal injury, divorce—rather than criminal prosecution.
The government isn't pursuing charges; instead, one party sues another for damages or other remedies.
She filed a civil case against her former employer for wrongful termination.
The standard of proof is lower than in criminal cases: preponderance of evidence rather than beyond reasonable doubt.
Sworn statement as evidence
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- verdictOfficial court decision
- juryLegal decision-making body
- judgeOne who decides
courtroom · witness · cross-examination · opening statement · closing argument · deliberation · bench trial · jury trial
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- complaintExpression of discontent
- summonsFormal court notification
- tortActionable civil harm
breach · contract · negligence · injunction · jurisdiction · venue · filing · cause of action
Formal litigation documents
- motionsActions or formal proposals
- discoveryAct of finding something
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
interrogatories · briefs · docket · appellate · pretrial · continuance · stipulation · affidavit
Resolved dispute or colony
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
dismissal · summary judgment · consent decree · default judgment · plea · out-of-court · agreement · compromise
Compensation for injury
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
redress · reparation · award · punitive damages · monetary relief · pain and suffering · economic damages · attorney fees
Impartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- remedyCurative treatment or fix
legal system · precedent · appeal · constitutionality · judicial review · equal protection · injustice · legal recourse
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
judge · courtroom · witness · cross-examination · opening statement · closing argument · deliberation · bench trial · jury trial · sequester
plaintiff
Civil case initiator
tort · breach · contract · negligence · injunction · jurisdiction · venue · filing · cause of action · counterclaim
pleadings
Formal litigation documents
- motionsActions or formal proposals
- discoveryAct of finding something
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
subpoena · interrogatories · briefs · docket · appellate · pretrial · continuance · stipulation · affidavit · exhibit
settlement
Resolved dispute or colony
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
conciliation · dismissal · summary judgment · consent decree · default judgment · plea · out-of-court · agreement · compromise · stipulated
damages
Compensation for injury
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
payout · redress · reparation · award · punitive damages · monetary relief · pain and suffering · economic damages · attorney fees · court costs
equity
Impartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
remedy · legal system · precedent · appeal · constitutionality · judicial review · equal protection · injustice · legal recourse · accountability
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- court recordscourt documents, court transcripts, court records, court record, court orders
- Irish LawHigh Court, barrister, solicitor, judiciary, prosecutor
- legal caseslawsuit, litigation, murder trials, criminal trials, lawsuits
- Roman LawRoman law, Corpus Juris Civilis, Justinian Code, Twelve Tables, Digest
- Tribal Courtstribal court, tribal justice, tribal law, chief judge, appellate court
civil casecriminal case
Legal proceeding for offenses
criminal prosecution · criminal trial · felony case · criminal charge · indictment
case, civil, civic, cases, civilian, civilized, civilization, uncivilized, civility