privatfallet

Privatfallet is a term used in Nordic legal language, notably Swedish and Norwegian, to refer to a legal case that is initiated or pursued by a private individual rather than by a public authority. In criminal law, privatfallet denotes a private prosecution, where a private party lays charges with the support of, or in place of, state prosecutors depending on the jurisdiction. In civil law, the term can describe a dispute between private parties brought before a court.

The concept contrasts with cases handled as public prosecutions or state-led proceedings, where criminal actions are initiated and pursued by public authorities. Use and scope of privatfallet vary by country and historical period. Some jurisdictions allow private prosecutions only for specific offenses or under particular conditions; in many modern systems, private prosecutions are restricted, supplemented by or largely superseded by public enforcement. In civil contexts, private plaintiffs commonly initiate lawsuits against other private parties, with proceedings governed by civil procedure rules.

Etymology: the term combines privat- (private) with fallet (the case or occurrence). Variants exist in Swedish and Norwegian; exact legal implications differ between jurisdictions and over time.

See also: private prosecution, civil case, Nordic legal systems, private suit.