Went After In Court Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 28, 2025
Looking for the solution to the "Went after in court" crossword clue from the April 28, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the exact 4-letter answer you need. To enhance your crossword solving experience, we've created interactive tools to assist you. You can use our gradual letter reveal feature, or browse through our carefully developed hints—including word pattern suggestions, similar clues sharing the same answer, or detailed descriptions to help your reasoning process. We've also streamlined navigation between related clues from the same puzzle. Ready to tackle this legal terminology challenge? Let's discover the answer together!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The April 28, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Went after in court" with the answer SUED. This clue refers to the legal action of filing a lawsuit against someone or an entity. The past tense "went after" indicates that the answer should also be in the past tense, making SUED the perfect fit for this four-letter answer.
Legal Terminology Context
In the legal system, to "sue" means to initiate a lawsuit against another party, typically seeking some form of remedy such as monetary damages or a specific performance. The term has its origins in Old French and Latin, with the Latin word "sequor" meaning "to follow" being the root. This etymology reflects how a plaintiff "follows" or "pursues" a defendant through the legal process. The American legal system distinguishes between civil cases (where one party sues another, as referred to in this clue) and criminal cases (where the government prosecutes someone for breaking the law). When someone is SUED, they become the defendant in a civil lawsuit brought by a plaintiff. Common grounds for civil lawsuits include breach of contract, personal injury, property damage, defamation, or other civil wrongs (torts). The process typically begins with the plaintiff filing a complaint, followed by serving the defendant with a summons. The case then proceeds through various stages including discovery (where both sides gather evidence), potential motions, and eventually either a settlement or trial. The vast majority of civil lawsuits—over 90% in most jurisdictions—are resolved through settlements before reaching trial. In everyday language, "being sued" has become synonymous with facing legal action, and the term frequently appears in news headlines and everyday conversation, making it a familiar concept for crossword solvers to recognize.
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving legal terminology clues in the NYT Mini Crossword, it helps to be familiar with common legal verbs and their various forms. For a clue like "Went after in court," notice that the verb is in past tense, suggesting that the answer will also be in past tense. Legal action words are popular in crosswords—terms like SUE, SUED, SUES; LITIGATE, LITIGATION; APPEAL, APPEALED; and PLEAD, PLEADED are frequently used. The Mini Crossword often uses accessible legal terms rather than specialized jargon, making SUED a perfect fit for this 4-letter space. When encountering court-related clues, first consider the most common legal actions (suing, pleading, appealing) and match them to the available space and crossing letters. Also pay attention to context clues—"went after" suggests an aggressive action, which aligns with suing someone rather than more neutral legal procedures. The Mini Crossword frequently uses this type of straightforward cluing for legal terms, making them accessible even to solvers without legal backgrounds.
Related Crossword Answers
SUED
Clue: "Brought to court"
SUE
Clue: "Take to court"
CASE
Clue: "Lawsuit in court"
TORT
Clue: "Civil wrong that may lead to being sued"
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