Definition

1. Noun:
   • A failure to follow a court order that benefits someone else: "Civil contempt" is a legal term referring to the willful disobedience of a court order, judgment, or decree. The purpose of finding someone in civil contempt is to coerce compliance with the court's order for the benefit of the other party in the case, often by imposing fines or imprisonment until the person complies.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The judge held the company in civil contempt for refusing to turn over the financial documents as ordered.
  • He was found in civil contempt for failing to pay court-ordered child support.

Advanced Usage

• "to be held in civil contempt": to be formally declared by a judge to be in violation of a court order.

  • If you do not comply with the injunction, you risk being held in civil contempt.

• "to purge civil contempt": to perform the required action to remedy the disobedience and be released from the contempt finding.

  • He paid the overdue alimony to purge the civil contempt.

Variants and Related Words

• Contempt of court (n): A broader legal category that includes both civil and criminal contempt for behavior that disobeys or disrespects the authority of the court.
• Criminal contempt (n): A finding of contempt intended to punish a person for an act that disrespects or obstructs the court, as opposed to coercing future compliance.

Synonyms

• Disobedience of a court order: A more general phrase describing the act.
• Noncompliance: Failure or refusal to comply.

Related Phrases

• Contempt proceeding (n): The legal process or hearing to determine if someone is in contempt of court.
  • A contempt proceeding was initiated after repeated violations of the settlement agreement.

Notes on Meaning

• The key distinction of civil contempt is its coercive and remedial purpose. It is designed to force the contemnor (the person in contempt) to obey the court's order for the benefit of the opposing party. This contrasts with criminal contempt, which is punitive in nature, meant to punish past misconduct that affronted the court's dignity or authority. The same act can sometimes lead to both types of contempt.

Noun

1. a failure to follow a court order that benefits someone else