What is a Civil Lawsuit?
Bringing a Civil Action
- Marketing, Advertising, Sales & PR
- Accounting, Taxation, and Reporting
- Professionalism & Career Development
-
Law, Transactions, & Risk Management
Government, Legal System, Administrative Law, & Constitutional Law Legal Disputes - Civil & Criminal Law Agency Law HR, Employment, Labor, & Discrimination Business Entities, Corporate Governance & Ownership Business Transactions, Antitrust, & Securities Law Real Estate, Personal, & Intellectual Property Commercial Law: Contract, Payments, Security Interests, & Bankruptcy Consumer Protection Insurance & Risk Management Immigration Law Environmental Protection Law Inheritance, Estates, and Trusts
- Business Management & Operations
- Economics, Finance, & Analytics
- Courses
Table of Contents
What is a civil lawsuit or civil action?What are the types of civil lawsuit?Discussion QuestionAcademic ResearchWhat is a civil lawsuit or civil action?
A civil lawsuit is a private legal action between two or more parties addressing a legally recognizable dispute.
Next Article: Parties to Litigation Return to: CIVIL LITIGATION
What are the types of civil lawsuit?
A civil lawsuit can be grounded in tort, contract, property, or family law. One or more of the parties have allegedly suffered a harm or loss as a result of the actions or inactions of the other party. Those parties are seeking resolution of the legal dispute and an enforceable remedy from the court.
Discussion Question
Why do you think the government provides a method by which individuals can settle disputes among themselves? Do you think litigation is an effective method of achieving these objectives?
- The ability to settle ones disputes through an authoritative court of law is a cornerstone of rule of law. It allows for the orderly administration of society, while providing confidence in carrying on economic activity. Some would say that litigation is not the most effective form, as a jury of ones peers often make decisions based upon emotion and lack of understanding of the law. Others would argue that this is the most fair way of approaching a dispute. It takes away the subjective authority of a single individual (a Judge or Arbiter) and places it into the hands of ones peers.