Legal Definitions - civil justice

Civil justice refers to the comprehensive system and processes a society employs to resolve disputes between individuals, organizations, or the government, where no criminal law has been violated. Its primary function is to provide remedies, such as financial compensation, specific actions, or injunctions, to those who have suffered harm or injustice in non-criminal matters, aiming to restore fairness and balance.

Here are some examples illustrating civil justice:

• Example 1: Breach of Contract

  Imagine a small catering company that hired a decorator for a major event. The decorator, despite being paid, failed to show up on the day of the event, causing the catering company to lose a significant client and suffer reputational damage. The catering company could initiate a civil justice action against the decorator for breach of contract.

  This illustrates civil justice because the catering company is seeking a remedy (likely financial compensation for their losses) for a non-criminal wrong committed by the decorator. The civil justice system provides the legal framework for them to pursue this claim and potentially recover damages.

• Example 2: Personal Injury Claim

  Consider a situation where a shopper slips and falls on a wet floor in a grocery store that had no warning signs, resulting in a broken arm and substantial medical bills. The shopper could file a personal injury lawsuit against the grocery store, alleging negligence.

  This demonstrates civil justice as the injured shopper is using the legal system to seek compensation for their injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering caused by the store's alleged failure to maintain a safe environment. The goal is to make the shopper "whole" again through a civil remedy, not to punish the store criminally.

• Example 3: Property Dispute

  Suppose two neighbors have a long-standing disagreement over the exact boundary line between their properties, leading to arguments about where a new fence can be built. Unable to resolve it themselves, one neighbor decides to file a civil lawsuit to have a court officially determine the property line.

  This is an example of civil justice because it involves individuals seeking a resolution to a non-criminal dispute over property rights. The civil justice system provides the mechanism (a court ruling, potentially based on surveys and evidence) to definitively settle the disagreement and establish the legal boundary, thereby redressing the uncertainty and conflict between the neighbors.