Legal Question in Criminal Law in New Jersey
Civil complanit
I need to know the difference between signing a civil complaint and pressing charges against someone for car theft.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Civil complanit
When you file a civil complaint against someone you are the plaintiff and he is she is the defendant and what you are trying to get is usually money, although sometimes one could seek an order compelling the defendant to do a specific act. In a civil suit the defendant does not fact jail unless he disobeys a court order.
In a criminal case which you file you are the complainant but not the plaintiff; the State of New Jersey is the plaintiff because you are alleging that the defendant violated a law of the
State of New Jersey. A conviction for a violation of a criminal law usually results in some kind of penalty which could range from a fine; to probation and to imprisonment for a specific period of time.
Gary Moore, Esquire
Hackensack, New Jersey
www.garymooreattorneyatlaw.com