Action
in law, a judicial proceeding before a court of justice to secure redress for the infringement of a right. In courts of equity a corresponding proceeding is termed a suit. Actions are classified as civil and criminal. Civil actions are instituted to enforce a private right or to obtain redress for a private wrong. Civil actions are personal, when claiming recovery of personal property or damages in lieu thereof; real, when concerning the recovery of land, rents, etc.; or mixed, when partaking of the character of both.
Criminal actions are brought by the state against some person accused of having committed a crime. Statutory actions are based on statutes, while common-law actions are enforced without the aid of a statute.
ACTIUM