What is the difference between criminal law and civil law ?
Civil law is when people and businesses sue another individual or business or even a government for a remedy for an alleged wrong. For example, if you are injured in a car accident or assaulted or someone trespasses or causes damages or a cheque is NSF, then you can sue the wrongdoer for a remedy eg damages (money) and or an injunction eg restraining order.
Civil law includes contract law and tort law. Before suing you need to research to find the civil laws which fit your facts and alleged wrong because the court can only give relief for breaches of law not moral wrongs. You might believe certain conduct to be morally wrong but if the conduct is not defined as a legal wrong then the court cannot provide a remedy.
In Canada, Criminal Law is the law to maintain public peace, as defined in the federal Criminal Code. If the alleged misconduct is not defined in the Criminal Code then it was not criminal conduct but it could be a breach of a civil law. Only Crown Counsel not individuals can prosecute someone who assaulted you for a criminal code breach but you can sue them personally for damages for the assault.
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