What is the difference between a criminal lawsuit and a civil law suit?
Criminal and civil lawsuits are different in both objective and in the results. While a criminal case involves government prosecution of an individual for an act classified as a crime, in a civil suit, individuals or organization bring suit to resolve a dispute or seek damages. In criminal cases, the state acting through a prosecutor must show guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. And the plaintiff in civil cases is required only to show the defendant is liable by a preponderance of the evidence. If you are convicted of a crime, you may get a jail sentence, may be ordered to pay a fine, or both. However, persons found liable in a civil case may only have to pay money or give up property, but are not sentenced to prison.
