Definition

Noun: A formal legal proceeding initiated in a court of law by one party (the plaintiff) against another (the defendant), seeking a judicial decision or remedy, such as damages or an injunction, for an alleged wrong or violation of rights.

Usage

A "lawsuit" is the official term for a case in a court. It is a neutral term for the process of using the legal system to resolve a dispute or claim. It is often used with verbs like "file," "bring," "settle," or "dismiss."

Examples

• The company filed a lawsuit against its competitor for patent infringement.
• After the accident, she decided to bring a lawsuit for her medical expenses.
• The lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
• He is facing a lawsuit from his former business partners.

Advanced Usage

• "To be embroiled in a lawsuit": To be deeply involved in a lengthy or complex legal case.
  • The two corporations were embroiled in a lawsuit for years.
• "A class-action lawsuit": A type of lawsuit where a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court.
  • Consumers joined a class-action lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company.

Variants and Related Words

• Litigation (n): The process of taking legal action; the act of suing. This is a broader, more formal term often encompassing the entire process.
  • The threat of litigation forced them to negotiate.
• Suit (n): A less formal synonym for "lawsuit," often used in the phrase "to bring suit."
  • They threatened to bring suit if the contract was not honored.
• Plaintiff (n): The person or party who initiates the lawsuit.
• Defendant (n): The person or party against whom the lawsuit is brought.

Synonyms

• Case: A general term for a matter to be decided in court.
• Legal action: A broad phrase for initiating proceedings in law.
• Proceedings: The sequence of events in a legal action.

Related Phrases

• "To file/drop a lawsuit": To officially begin or voluntarily end a legal case.
  • The claimant decided to drop the lawsuit after receiving an apology.
• "The lawsuit alleges that...": A common journalistic phrase introducing the claims made in the legal filing.
  • The lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer knowingly sold a defective product.

Noun

1. a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
   • the family brought suit against the landlord