case (original) (raw)

A case is a civil or criminal proceeding at law or in equity . It can also be referred to as an action , suit , or controversy , depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the dispute .

• A civil case normally involves two parties with equal status, such as a case between two citizens or a case between a citizen and a corporation .
• A criminal case typically involves two parties with different statuses; one party (the prosecutor ) represents the State - the other party (the defendant ) generally speaking, is an individual or a corporation.

See controversy for an explanation of the “ case or controversy ” requirement in federal court .

[Last reviewed in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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