You don't need to commit a crime to be sued for something. Not every type of harm is a criminal offense. Civil court exists to decide upon disagreements that people could not settle on their own, not to determine whether a law was broken.

You get a puic defender in crimimal courts because it is the state accusing you of wrongdoing and attempting to limit your rights. In civil court, it is another private citizen or entity, and they are looking to enforce their rights, not strip yours.