Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
action
Read a random definition: testing clause
A quick definition of action:
An action is when someone takes you to court. This can happen if someone thinks you did something wrong, either in a civil or criminal case. The person who starts the court case is called the plaintiff or prosecution.
A more thorough explanation:
Action
An action is a legal proceeding where a person or organization brings a case against another person or organization. The party who brings the action is called the plaintiff in a civil case or the prosecution in a criminal case.
- If someone sues you for damages after a car accident, they have brought an action against you.
- If the government charges you with a crime, they have brought a criminal action against you.
These examples illustrate how an action is a legal proceeding where one party brings a case against another party. In the first example, the plaintiff is the person who is suing for damages, while in the second example, the prosecution is the government agency bringing the criminal charges.