plaintiff
Brings civil charges
A plaintiff is the person or party who brings a lawsuit against another in court—the one doing the suing rather than being sued.
The opposing party is the defendant.
The plaintiff alleged that the company had violated the terms of the contract.
In criminal cases, the state prosecutes rather than a plaintiff.
One who formally requests
- claimantOne asserting entitlement
- accuserOne who alleges wrongdoing
- grievantOne filing formal complaint
- injured partyOne harmed by another
Civil court proceeding
- defendantParty facing charges
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- attorneyLicensed legal representative
lawyer · case · testimony · evidence · verdict · judgment · subpoena · witness
Compensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
harm · remedy · restitution · redress · reparation · injunction · relief · indemnity
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- breachBreaking of agreement
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
personal injury · wrongful death · defamation · fraud · contract dispute · class action · small claims · product liability
petitioner
One who formally requests
- claimantOne asserting entitlement
- accuserOne who alleges wrongdoing
- grievantOne filing formal complaint
injured party · appellant · respondent · pro se · class representative
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
attorney · lawyer · case · testimony · evidence · verdict · judgment · subpoena · witness · deposition
damages
Compensation for injury
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
injury · harm · remedy · restitution · redress · reparation · injunction · relief · indemnity · recovery
tort
Actionable civil harm
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- breachBreaking of agreement
malpractice · personal injury · wrongful death · defamation · fraud · contract dispute · class action · small claims · product liability · discrimination
- justicecourtroom, trials, retributive justice, courts, gavel
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- legal practicelawyer, attorney, legal research, counsel, legal advice
- legalesehereby, herein, hereinafter, hereof, hereto
- litigationpleadings, lawsuit, lawsuits, motions, trials
- US Lawattorney, lawyer, lawsuit, jury, federal court
plaintiffdefendant
Party facing charges
respondent · accused · appellee · defender · codefendant