Legal Definitions - personal-capacity suit

A personal-capacity suit is a type of legal action taken against an individual in their personal capacity, rather than in their official capacity as a representative of an organization or government entity. This type of suit is typically brought when the individual's actions have caused harm or injury to another person.

If a police officer uses excessive force during an arrest, the victim may file a personal-capacity suit against the officer for their individual actions, rather than against the police department as a whole.

This example illustrates how a personal-capacity suit is used to hold an individual accountable for their own actions, rather than allowing them to hide behind the protection of their organization or employer.