civil action
noun [ C ] uk/ˌsɪv.əl ˈæk.ʃən/ us/ˌsɪv.əl ˈæk.ʃən/
民事诉讼
an official complaint, made by a person or company in a law court against another person who is said to have done something to harm them, that is dealt with by a judge
She brought a civil action against her former employer. 她对前雇主提起了民事诉讼。