In a civil court case, the defendant is the person who

goes on trial for potentially committing a felony or misdemeanor.

claims that a suspect has committed a felony or misdemeanor.

has committed a tort that has wrongly harmed someone else.

was wrongly harmed by someone who committed a tort.

In a civil court case, the defendant is the person who has committed a tort that has wrongly harmed someone else.

Explanation:

In civil court cases, the defendant is the person accused of damaging the plaintiff. But this damage does not arise from a criminal offense, but from a specific civil action that, while not a crime, has the potential to harm third parties. The clear example is a car crash, where although there is no crime, the person who maneuvered incorrectly must pay the necessary repairs to the owner of the other vehicle.

has committed a tort that has wrongly harmed someone else.

Explanation:

In a civil court case, the defendant is the person who has committed a tort that has wrongly harmed someone else.