Causes of action in civil litigation are specific claims provided by law that serve as the basis for parties to a lawsuit to recover money or property from each other—or to provide other legal or equitable relief, such as a court order requiring or prohibiting some act (injunctive relief). Examples of causes of action include breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Causes of action (also called claims) are usually located in a state or federal statute, or in court opinions (common law).

In Nebraska, causes of action in civil litigation are the legal grounds on which a party files a lawsuit to seek relief, such as monetary compensation or injunctive relief. These causes of action can arise from breaches of contract, where one party fails to fulfill their contractual obligations, or from torts, such as negligence or fraud, where one party's wrongful conduct causes harm to another. Breach of fiduciary duty occurs when an individual who has a duty to act in another's best interest fails to do so. The specific claims that can be made in Nebraska are governed by a combination of state statutes and decisions made in previous court cases (common law). For instance, the Nebraska Revised Statutes outline various legal claims and the Nebraska Supreme Court decisions interpret these statutes and establish common law precedents. It is important for parties considering litigation to consult with an attorney to identify the appropriate cause of action based on the facts of their case and to understand the legal requirements to successfully assert that claim in court.