term:

Citizen Suit

citizen suit n

: a suit brought by citizens under a provision of an environmental law (as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) that gives citizens a private right of action against violators of the law and authorizes the court to award injunctive relief and sometimes to impose penalties

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.