In the U.S., if you are involved in a dispute you have the right to take your case to court to be resolved. A civil suit is a judicial case in which you, the plaintiff, are accusing someone else, the defendant, of having prejudice against you. The process, known as litigation, may occur in cases of breach of contract, destruction of property, or bodily injury. Civil suits are completely separate from criminal proceedings, which may involve the representation of an attorney, and can have dramatically different outcomes.
