In Ex parte Coastal Training Institute, 583 So. 2d 979 (Ala. 1991), the Court held that a party in a civil proceeding may assert his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination even if no criminal charges are pending against him. In that case, this Court noted that the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination applies in civil proceedings. 583 So. 2d at 980. The Court also held: "The pendency of criminal charges is not necessary to the assertion of the privilege. It is a general rule that one need not be indicted to properly claim the Fifth Amendment privilege." Id. at 981.