In a civil case, what is typically the outcome that is sought by the plaintiff?

In a civil case, the outcome that a plaintiff typically seeks is monetary compensation or specific performance. This fundamentally reflects the nature of civil law, which is primarily concerned with resolving disputes between individuals or entities rather than punishing wrongdoers.

Monetary compensation is sought to remediate the plaintiff for losses incurred due to the defendant's actions, whether these are tangible damages like medical costs or property loss, or intangible damages such as emotional distress. Specific performance may be requested in cases where monetary compensation would not be adequate to resolve the situation; this requires the defendant to fulfill a contractual obligation.

In contrast, imprisonment is a punitive measure that is applicable in criminal cases, while rehabilitation and public service requirements are also linked to criminal justice outcomes rather than the civil system. Civil cases focus on restoring the injured party, which is why monetary compensation and specific performance are the primary objectives pursued by plaintiffs.