A Lawsuit Is Something You Follow
A lawsuit is a civil claim brought in court. The suit part comes from a verb meaning to follow, which is what a claimant does with a claim.
A lawsuit is a claim brought by one party against another in a civil court. The odd half of the word is *suit*, from Latin *sequi*, to follow — the same root as *sequence* and *pursue*. To sue is to follow a claim through the courts, and a suit of clothes is a set that follows each other in matching.
- A claim brought in a civil court. *He filed a lawsuit.*
- Legal action generally. *Threatened with a lawsuit.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | lawsuit | A costly lawsuit. |
| Plural | lawsuits | Several lawsuits. |
| Verb | sue | They sued the company. |
| Person | plaintiff | The plaintiff claims. |
| Person | defendant | The defendant denies it. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The lawsuit was settled out of court.Most are.
- She is suing for breach of contract.Sue for names the ground.
- The claimant bears the burden of proof.Claimant is the British term for plaintiff.
Who is who in a civil case
- Claimant / plaintiff — the person bringing the claim
- Defendant — the person defending it
- Counsel — the barristers or attorneys arguing
- Settlement — an agreement ending the case early
- Damages — money awarded as compensation
A compound of *law* and *suit*, from Old French *suite*, a following, from Latin *sequi*. The playing-card suit and the suit of clothes come from the same idea of things that go together.
Lawsuit or prosecution?
A lawsuit is a civil claim between parties. A prosecution is a criminal case brought by the state.
Claimant or plaintiff?
England and Wales replaced plaintiff with claimant in 1999. American courts still say plaintiff.