“private right of action”

A key component of the Texas Abortion law. Money is offered to people who report on women seeking abortions. 

What is it?

A private right of action is when a private individual or entity, as opposed to the state, government or a public body, has the legal right to assert legal rights under the law. When we say that the right is “private”, it relates to an individual, person, entity or organization that is anyone but the state. When we say “action”, we refer to a lawsuit or the enforcement of legal rights. In essence, a private right of action is when a person (other than the government or the state) has the right to commence legal proceedings or file a lawsuit against another under the law. You can define a private right of action as the right granted to a private plaintiff to bring legal action against another party based on the Constitution, public statute or federal common law.

There you go.