plaintiff

/'pleintif/

Thân thiện

The plaintiff presents evidence to the judge.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who brings a legal action against someone in a court of law: The "plaintiff" is the party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint, alleging that they have been wronged by the defendant and seeking a legal remedy, such as damages or an injunction.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The plaintiff accused the company of breach of contract.
  • In a civil case, the burden of proof initially lies with the plaintiff.
  • The judge listened carefully to the arguments presented by the plaintiff's attorney.

Advanced Usage

• "Plaintiff in error": An older, formal term for a party who appeals a court decision; more commonly called the "appellant" in modern legal terminology.
• The role of the plaintiff: The plaintiff has the responsibility to prove their case "by a preponderance of the evidence" in most civil lawsuits. This is a lower standard than "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is required in criminal cases.

Variants and Related Words

• Complainant (n): A synonym for "plaintiff," often used in certain types of proceedings, like administrative or equity courts.
• Petitioner (n): A party who presents a petition to a court. In some types of cases, like divorces or appeals, this term is used instead of "plaintiff."
• Litigant (n): A general term for any person involved in a lawsuit, which can include both plaintiffs and defendants.
• Plaintiff's attorney / Counsel for the plaintiff: The lawyer who represents the plaintiff.

Synonyms

• Claimant: A person making a claim, especially in a legal context.
• Suer: An archaic term for one who brings a suit.

Antonyms

• Defendant (n): The person or party against whom a lawsuit is brought.
• Respondent (n): The party who answers or responds to a petition or appeal, analogous to the defendant in certain proceedings.

Related Legal Phrases

• "Plaintiff rests": A formal declaration made by the plaintiff's lawyer indicating they have finished presenting their evidence to the court.
• "Party plaintiff": A designated plaintiff in a lawsuit involving multiple parties on the same side.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a person who brings an action in a court of law

Từ đồng nghĩa

• complainant