There shall be only one form of action, and it shall be known as a civil action.
Rule 2.One Form of Action
Last amended July 1, 1970 · Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2 does away with the old split between lawsuits at law and suits in equity, so Ohio recognizes only one kind of case — the civil action — no matter what relief a party is after.
Full Text of Rule 2
Amendment History
Effective Date: July 1, 1970
Plain-English Summary
Before rules like this one, law and equity ran on separate tracks, each with its own forms, procedures, and even its own courts in some states. A plaintiff had to guess the right track before filing, and picking wrong could sink a case regardless of its merits.
Rule 2 erases that line. Every civil matter in Ohio, whether the relief sought is money damages, an injunction, or both, proceeds as a single civil action under one set of procedural rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ask for both money damages and an injunction in the same Ohio lawsuit?
Yes. Because Rule 2 merges law and equity into one civil action, a single complaint can seek both legal relief, like damages, and equitable relief, like an injunction.
Does Ohio still distinguish between “law” and “equity” cases procedurally?
No. Every civil matter is a civil action governed by the same Civil Rules, regardless of whether the underlying claim would once have been called legal or equitable.
Source & verification. The rule text, Effective Date, Amended dates, and Staff Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure (Ohio R. Civ. P. 2). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio (Ohio Constitution, Art. IV, § 5(B)). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: civil actionone form of actionmerger of law and equity