A legal proceeding is a formal process in which a court of law hears and decides on a case. The most common type of legal proceeding is a TRIAL, which is a formal hearing in which evidence is presented to a judge or jury to determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant. A LAWSUIT is a civil ACTION brought by one party against another in a court of law. A SUIT is a legal ACTION brought by one party against another, usually in a civil court. An ACTION is a legal proceeding initiated by one party against another in order to protect or enforce a right, or to prevent or redress a wrong. A civil SUIT is a legal ACTION brought by one party against another in a civil court.