Civil Lawsuits

Civil lawsuits are claims in which one person, company or entity sues another. The difference between civil lawsuits and criminal ones is civil lawsuits are not brought by a prosecutor, district attorney or agent of the state, but instead are brought by an individual or an entity (like a corporation). Another big difference is the remedies sought in civil lawsuits are generally limited to monetary damages, whereas criminal cases often lead to jail time. Special rules of court procedure apply to both civil and criminal cases and dictate what evidence is admissible and what must be proven for a plaintiff or a defendant to prevail. To learn more about the process of litigation and civil lawsuits, use the resources and frequently asked questions on this page.