From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishproceed against somebody phrasal verb lawSCLto begin a legal case against someone → proceed→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
proceed against • Furthermore, the role of the police is crucial in determining whether offences that they do know about are proceeded against.• In 1965, an undertaking was given that only serious breaches of the Act should be proceeded against.• Those items would not in the event have been proceeded against, because prosecuting authorities would fear a jury acquittal.• Instead, the justices must decide whether to allow Jones' case to proceed against Clinton while he is still in office.• If the commissioners vote to proceed against Microsoft, they may move quickly, the magazine says.• Only Nikias mentions their specific brief from the People to proceed against Selinus, and his views do not prevail.• He might proceed against the judgment debtor in person; or against his property.• S. high court said a state lawsuit could proceed against truck manufacturers accused of negligence for failing to install antilock brakes.From Longman Business Dictionaryproceed against somebody phrasal verb [transitive] LAW to begin a legal case against someoneThe court will allow the plaintiff to proceed against the partners. → proceed→ See Verb table 