Who are the main parties involved in civil cases?

In civil cases, the primary parties involved are the plaintiff and the defendant. The plaintiff is the individual or entity that initiates the lawsuit, claiming to have suffered a loss or injury and seeking a legal remedy. The defendant is the party being accused or sued, responding to the plaintiff's claims. This fundamental relationship defines the nature of civil disputes, which typically revolve around issues such as contracts, property, or personal injuries.

The roles of the judge and jury, while important in the context of overseeing trials and making determinations, do not constitute the primary parties in a civil case. Instead, they serve as arbiters of the case. Similarly, criminal cases involve a prosecutor and the accused, which is a different legal context from civil cases. Witnesses may provide testimony but do not represent the opposing sides in the case itself. Therefore, the distinction clearly highlights that the heart of a civil case centers around the interactions and legal arguments made by the plaintiff and the defendant.