filed suit

Meaning

1. 1phraseintransitivelegallaw

   Started a legal case against someone by officially asking a court to decide the matter.

   Grammar: Used without an object; the person or organization being taken to court comes after 'against': They filed suit against the company.

   Patterns

   • file suit against someone
   • file a suit against someone
   • file suit in a court

   The neighbors filed suit against the builder after the roof collapsed.

   She filed suit in federal court, claiming she had been unfairly dismissed.

   After months of failed talks, the small firm filed suit to recover the money it was owed.

Common combinations

file suit against someone

The investors filed suit against the former director.

file a lawsuit

They decided to file a lawsuit rather than settle out of court.

file suit in court

The family filed suit in the local court last Tuesday.

threaten to file suit

The landlord threatened to file suit if the rent was not paid.

Synonyms and how they differ

sue

A more everyday verb meaning the same thing; 'sue' is common in speech, while 'file suit' sounds more formal and legal.

litigate

Means to take part in a legal case, often over a long period; 'file suit' only refers to the first official step.

Word family

lawsuit noun

The legal case itself, not the act of starting it.

suit noun

A legal claim brought to a court; 'file suit' means to start one.

Commonly confused: filed suit or suite?

Practice

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