Civil Liability
Civil LawLegal information only — not legal advice. B-Legal is not a law firm and use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Consult a licensed attorney before acting.
Plain-English Meaning
Legal responsibility in a civil (non-criminal) case. When someone is civilly liable, they can be ordered by a court to pay money damages to the person they wronged. Civil liability is separate from criminal guilt — a person can be acquitted criminally but still held civilly liable.
Legal Context
Civil liability in New York arises from torts (wrongful acts like negligence, assault, or defamation), contract breaches, and statutory violations. The standard of proof is preponderance of the evidence — lower than the criminal standard. Police misconduct may give rise to civil liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (federal civil rights law) or the New York CPLR. Cities can be held liable for officers' conduct under respondeat superior in certain circumstances.
Real-Life Example
O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder in criminal court but was later found civilly liable for the deaths in a separate civil trial — because the standard of proof is lower in civil cases. The families were awarded over $33 million in damages.
Related Terms
Source
General civil law term. Original B-Legal plain-language explanation.
Definitions are simplified for education. Legal meanings vary by jurisdiction, context, and case facts. This definition is original B-Legal content and is not affiliated with or derived from any proprietary legal dictionary.