Which of the following describes a civil action?

A civil action is characterized by private disputes between individuals or entities, where the primary focus is on resolving issues related to private injuries or wrongs that do not involve criminal behavior. Typically, civil actions seek remedies such as compensation or specific performance rather than punishment. This includes cases such as contract disputes, property disputes, and tort cases, where one party claims they have suffered due to another party's actions or negligence, but these actions do not constitute a violation of criminal law.

The other options describe aspects of different types of legal actions. Charges brought by the state pertain to criminal actions, where the government is prosecuting an individual for violations of law. Concerns related to federal law usually involve federal statutes and may be civil or criminal, depending on the context. Lastly, a focus on punishment and imprisonment aligns with criminal cases, which are aimed at penalizing offenders rather than compensating victims or resolving disputes. Therefore, option B accurately represents the nature of civil actions within the legal framework.