What is Civil Law?
Definition of Civil Law--Civil law seeks to resolve non-criminal disputes such as disagreements over the meaning of contracts, property ownership, divorce, child custody, and damages for personal and property damage. A civil court is a place where people can solve their problems with people peacefully. The function of civil law is to provide a legal remedy to solve problems. Sometimes civil law is based on a state or federal statute; at other times civil law is based on a ruling by the court.
Types of Civil Cases
Civil law covers a wide spectrum of topics. Some of these topics are:
- consumer law
- international law
- agricultural law
- employment law
- animal law
- entertainment law
- business law
- family law
- sports law
- tax law
- intentional torts such as libel, slander, defamation of character, battery and assault.
- negligence
Parties in a Civil Law Case
Plaintiff--the person who feels he or she has not been treated fairly by another person and seeks a solution in a civil court. This party has the burden of proving that he or she was treated unfairly.
Defendant--the person who the plaintiff claims has treated him or her unfairly.