Can you sue someone for robbing you, or for assaulting you? Well, yes, and no. You cannot use a civil suit to accuse someone of a crime, even if he or she committed one--we have criminal courts for that, and the person is not guilty of the crime unless he or she has been convicted of the crime. After the person has been convicted, you may sue for damages--and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Here's an example: someone hits you with his car. You may not file a civil suit accusing him of drunk driving. If he is indicted for drunk driving, and convicted, you may make that a part of your lawsuit. The same holds true for any other crime. If someone robs you, and is indicted and convicted, you may certainly sue to recover your lost property. Anyone insisting that this "just isn't done" ought to be able to show you a statute forbidding it--and there isn't one. You may sue for assault--just remember that you can really only sue for money in a United States court .That means you have to show how you lost money through being assaulted--lost wages, medical bills, psychiatric treatment, or damage to your career and reputation--it all translates into money.
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