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Civil or Criminal: Do You Understand the Difference

Is This a Civil or Criminal Case?

Civil cases usually involve disputes between people or organizations while criminal cases allege a violation of a criminal law.

 
 
 
Read each case description and consider whether the
information given constitutes a civil or criminal case.
 
 
 
 
Click the corresponding answers to see if you are correct.

 

 

 

Case 1: An insurance company that has a policy on John Doe’s house refuses to compensate John Doe after a burglar robs his house.

Case 1: An insurance company that has a policy on John Doe’s house refuses to compensate John Doe after a burglar robs his house. | Civil or Criminal?

Case 1 Answer

Case 1 Answer | Civil: John Doe could bring suit against his insurance company to ask the court to determine whether the insurance company is obligated to pay for the loss.

Case 2: A person carries a loaded gun onto a commercial airplane at Orlando International Airport.

Case 2: A person carries a loaded gun onto a commercial airplane at Orlando International Airport. | Civil or Criminal?

Case 2 Answer

Case 2 Answer | Criminal: This is a violation of a federal criminal statute.

Case 3: A person duplicates a movie and sells hundreds of copies on the Internet.

Case 3: A person duplicates a movie and sells hundreds of copies on the Internet. | Civil or Criminal?

Case 3 Answer

Case 3 Answer | Civil and Criminal: Video "piracy" is considered theft. The producer of the movie can sue for losses.

Case 4: Ann Smith, a Florida resident, is robbed and beaten severely by a man from South Carolina.

Case 4: Ann Smith, a Florida resident, is robbed and beaten severely by a man from South Carolina. | Civil or Criminal?

Case 4 Answer

Case 4 Answer | Civil and Criminal: The man can be charged with assault, battery, and other crimes. Ann Smith can sue the man in a civil action to recover damages from her injuries.

 

Case 5: Widget Manufacturing Company in Georgia sells and delivers $100,000 of car parts to Sprocket Auto Supply in Florida. Sprocket refuses to pay for the parts.

Case 5: Widget Manufacturing Company in Georgia sells and delivers $100,000 of car parts to Sprocket Auto Supply in Florida. Sprocket refuses to pay for the parts. | Civil or Criminal?

Case 5 Answer

Case 5 Answer | Civil: This is a dispute between private parties over a contract.

Case 6: A drunken boater on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway runs into a jet ski with his boat, killing the driver of the jet ski.

Case 6: A drunken boater on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway runs into a jet ski with his boat, killing the driver of the jet ski. | Civil or Criminal?

Case 6 Answer

Case 6 Answer | Civil and Criminal: The estate of the jet ski driver could bring a civil action against the drunken boat operator for wrongful death. The drunken boater could be criminally charged with manslaughter, boating under the influence, and other crimes.