Dictionary Home » Webster's New World Law Dictionary » action

action

action definition - legal

Any behavior, conduct, or series of acts by a person.
A civil or criminal judicial proceeding intended to resolve a legal dispute, claim, or accusation.

civil action

An action brought to enforce, protect, or redress a civil or private right or to compel a civil remedy; any action brought other than a criminal action.

class action

An action brought by a person or a group of people as representatives of a larger group who have a common legal claim but are so numerous that it is impracticable for all of them to participate or be joined as individual parties in the case.
An action brought against a large group of people who have a common legal defense to a claim that they are all potentially liable for but are so numerous that it is impracticable for all of them to participate or be joined as individual parties in the case.

criminal action

An action initiated by the government to punish a person or entity for a crime.

damage action

An action seeking an award of money from the defendant for a wrong committed upon the plaintiff.

derivative action

An action brought on behalf of a corporation by a shareholder when that corporation is entitled to bring an action and, deliberatively or otherwise, fails to do so.
An action that is based upon the injury suffered by someone other than the plaintiff. For example, a husband may sue for loss of consortium or services if the defendant injured his wife.

in personam action

See in personam.

in rem action

See in rem.

quasi in rem action

An action against an out-of-state defendant over whom the state lacks in personam jurisdiction that is commenced by the attachment, garnishment, or other seizure of property owned by the defendant that is located within the state and that is unrelated to the plaintiffÂ’s claim.

third-party action

An action initiated by a defendant in a civil case against a person or entity who is not a party to the proceeding that is against the defendant and against whom the defendant claims a right of contribution or indemnity, should the defendant be found liable to the plaintiff.