Civil cases are any non-criminal lawsuits filed by or against any individual. This includes records that are within the past 7 years, and any records in both the upper and lower courts. Civil searches are an essential part of any background check. It reveals legal actions filed by individuals and businesses against other individuals and businesses. These records include information relating to both the plaintiff and the defendant in such cases, and are searched 7 years back. This is especially helpful to help you identify likely candidates that may become a liability to your company.