Civil Lawsuit
A legal action between private parties seeking monetary damages or a court order, as opposed to criminal prosecution by the government.
A civil lawsuit is a legal dispute between private parties—individuals, businesses, or organizations—where the plaintiff seeks a remedy from the defendant, typically monetary damages or equitable relief. Unlike criminal cases, the government is not a party and the standard of proof is "preponderance of the evidence" (more likely than not) rather than "beyond a reasonable doubt."
The civil litigation process typically involves: filing a complaint, serving the defendant, the defendant filing an answer, a discovery phase, pre-trial motions, and potentially trial. Most civil cases settle before trial—often 85–95%—because trials are expensive, time-consuming, and carry uncertain outcomes for both sides.
Civil lawsuits can award compensatory damages (to make the plaintiff whole), consequential damages, and in cases of egregious conduct, punitive damages. Attorney fees are generally not recoverable in US civil cases unless a statute or contract provides for fee-shifting.
Real-World Example
After failed settlement negotiations, the former employee filed a civil lawsuit for wrongful termination, seeking $220,000 in lost wages and emotional distress damages.