Русско-англо-русский юридический словарь

Mitigating Circumstances Information about the defendant that does not justify or excuse a criminal act or civil wrong, but that may reduce the defendant's degree of culpability. In criminal law, juries consider mitigating circumstances when deciding whether to impose the death sentence in a capital case, and judges may consider them when selecting a sentence. In civil cases, mitigating circumstances may reduce the amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff. (Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary)

A civil case is a legal case involving civil law or common law, which involves disputes between individuals or organizations in which some form of compensation may be awarded to the victim. Criminal law, on the other hand, involves cases in which the state is against an individual as the individual has broken the state's laws. A civil case may also be referred to as civil action, civil proceedings, or a civil suit. Civil cases are almost exclusively intended to correct private issues such as breaches of contracts or various negligence issues. Public issues that affect individuals and the functioning of society as a whole are typically handled in criminal court. (WiseGEEK)

A civil case is a lawsuit that usually deals with contracts and/or torts. (Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario)

Definition of private international law: Part of local legal system that governs the selection of appropriate law, and validity of judgments and jurisdictions of local and foreign courts, in civil cases containing a foreign element, such as where a contract made locally has to be performed in another country. (BusinessDictionary)