civil action

American  

[siv-uhl ak-shuhn] / ˈsɪv əl ˈæk ʃən /

noun

Law.

1. a noncriminal lawsuit regarding an alleged violation of someone’s rights.

   When he started his own business and solicited his former employer’s clients, the employer filed a civil action against him.

   Some states require litigants in civil actions to go through alternative dispute resolution first.

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Example Sentences

Petitioners could take civil action against those who fail to comply and statutory damages would be set at $3,000 for each day the content remained online.

From Los Angeles Times

When you have removed your aunt’s attorney through court proceedings, you can pursue a civil action.

From MarketWatch

The bill also allows a borrower to bring a civil action against a mortgage servicer for violations of the law.

From Los Angeles Times

The pair explained to Witkoff that, after a succession of criminal and civil actions against their father and his companies, they were scrambling to find banks that would accept them as clients.

From The Wall Street Journal

Law firm Digby Brown later said that a total of nearly £1m in civil actions against Network Rail had been settled.

From BBC