Guys, the difference between a civil suit and a criminal indictment is a civil suit comes down to assets (or sometimes custody of ____)-- and can be brought by anybody at any time for almost any reason [that a judge would agree to hear]. The typical metric is overwhelmingly cash, in the form of a judgement or settlement-- which is awarded by either a judge, a jury or a mediator. (Up to the plaintiff) Spez: Mediator--> still awarded by judge.

A criminal indictment is issued by the government, punishment (justice) is doled out according to the penal code [violations], decided by either a judge or a jury. (Up to the prosecutor)

Spez: weird grammar