An enforcement action is a formal proceeding by a regulator or prosecutor to compel compliance or to penalize a violation, ending in a settlement, an order or a judgment. It is the regulatory counterpart of a lawsuit.
Agencies bring actions through administrative proceedings or in court, depending on the statute. Most end in negotiated resolutions in which the respondent neither admits nor denies the findings.
The outcome is shaped by the agency's priorities, the respondent's cooperation and the remedy sought. Posture and timing differ by agency, which is why outcome and duration are measured per agency and matter type.
An enforcement action is not a private claim. Recoveries typically go to the government or to a fund for injured parties, and private plaintiffs often follow with their own suits.
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