Читать книгу Studies in Civics - J. T. McCleary - Страница 20

Definitions.—A Civil Action is one having for its object the protection or enforcement of a private right or the securing of compensation for an infraction thereof. For instance a suit brought to secure possession of a horse, or to secure damages for a trespass is a civil action. The person bringing the action is called the plaintiff; the one against whom it is brought, the defendant. The plaintiff and the defendant are called the parties to the action.

Jurisdiction.—A justice of the peace has jurisdiction within the county in most civil actions when the amount in controversy does not exceed a certain sum, usually one hundred dollars. (See p. 296.)