Legal Action Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Legal Action, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Legal Action?

(n) A Legal Action is the action taken by a person or legal entity against another person, persons or entities with an intention to avail legal repercussions or remedies for any loss occurred or may occur to him, by moving a lawsuit in the court of the land

History and Meaning of Legal Action

Legal action is a term used to refer to the steps that a person or organization takes to enforce or protect their legal rights in a court of law. Legal action can be taken for a variety of reasons, such as to recover financial damages, to seek an injunction or restraining order against another party, or to resolve a dispute over a contract or agreement. Legal action can be initiated by an individual, a group of individuals, or a legal entity such as a company.

Examples of Legal Action

  1. If a person is injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver, they may choose to take legal action by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

  2. A company may take legal action against a former employee who has violated a non-compete agreement by starting a competing business, seeking damages and an injunction to prevent the employee from continuing to compete.

  3. In a divorce proceeding, one spouse may take legal action against the other to seek custody of their children, spousal support, and a fair division of property.

Legal Terms Similar to Legal Action

  1. Lawsuit: A lawsuit is a legal action that is filed in court by one party against another, seeking a resolution to a dispute.

  2. Litigation: Litigation refers to the process of taking a legal action or lawsuit through the court system in order to resolve a dispute.

  3. Legal remedy: A legal remedy is a court-ordered action that is taken to resolve a legal dispute, such as an award of damages or an injunction.