civil suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of civil law by the defendant

class action, class-action suit - a lawsuit brought by a representative member of a large group of people on behalf of all members of the group

countersuit - a suit brought against someone who has sued you

criminal suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of criminal law by the defendant

moot - a hypothetical case that law students argue as an exercise; "he organized the weekly moot"

bastardy proceeding, paternity suit - a lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined)

legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings - (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"