A criminal case comes to be when the government seeks to punish an individual for an act considered to be a crime. On the other hand, a civil case usually has to do with a dispute over the rights and duties that individuals and organizations legally owe each other. The burden of proof is higher in a criminal case, and the penalty imposed is a criminal sanction. In a civil case, the defendant will usually have a monetary judgment entered against him or her. This judgment is often covered by insurance.