In legal terms, what defines a civil action?

A civil action is fundamentally characterized by a lawsuit initiated by one private party against another to address a legal dispute or controversy. This definition encompasses a wide range of cases, including those related to personal injury, contract disputes, property issues, and family law matters. The primary focus of civil actions is on resolving private rights and obligations rather than addressing crimes or public offenses.

In contrast, a lawsuit brought by the state against a person accused of a crime pertains to criminal cases, where the government prosecutes an individual for violating laws. Cases involving public offenses, such as theft or assault, are inherently criminal and thus do not fit the definition of a civil action. Additionally, a preliminary hearing is a procedural step in criminal cases used to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial, which is relevant to criminal law rather than civil law. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why the definition of a civil action specifically involves disputes between private parties rather than criminal prosecutions or preliminary hearings.