One way is to place a lien against their property. Another is to garnish their wages. The state laws will specify what can be done.
Generically, a civil suit is one that seeks money damages or equitable remedies (such as an injunction). This is on contrast to a criminal suit. A civil suit can be person vs. person, person vs. other legal entity, or legal entity vs. legal entity. A criminal matter always involves a branch the government against another party (such as a state prosecuting someone for homicide). Therefore, a civil suit can be a breach of contract action, or one based upon injuries sustained by a person due to a defective product.
The party who initiates a civil suit is the plaintiff, this is the person who filed the complaint against you.
Plaintiff
If the suit has not been satisfied, you'll need to sue the estate.
I believe that you are referring to a civil suit? This is an action by one person or entity (company, partnership, etc) against another, for money damages or some other kind of equatable relief (an injunction, cancellation of a deed or contract, etc).
The person that files a civil suit is known as the Petitioner or the Plaintiff or the Claimant.
the person who files against you. the complainant
The plaintiff will win a by default and a judgment will be entered against the defendant. There are not laws that require a person to file an answer or to be present at the civil suit hearing.
The plaintiff is the person who brings or files the suit. The person who gets sued is the respondent or defendant .
A civil suit judgment is against the person who is named in the lawsuit. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the wife would not be liable for the payment.
The attorney who is acting on the behalf or the person(s) and/or creditor who filed the civil suit.
Certainly, it is called slander and is brought as a civil suit.