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nouna person who brings an action in a court of law
Similar:
Opposite:
Definition that contains plaintiff
- answer the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
- complaint (civil law) the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim for relief is based
- execution a routine court order that attempts to enforce the judgment that has been granted to a plaintiff by authorizing a sheriff to carry it out
- rebuttal (law) a pleading by the defendant in reply to a plaintiff's surrejoinder
- libel the written statement of a plaintiff explaining the cause of action (the defamation) and any relief he seeks
- replication (law) a pleading made by a plaintiff in reply to the defendant's plea or answer
- rejoinder (law) a pleading made by a defendant in response to the plaintiff's replication
- judgment by default a judgment entered in favor of the plaintiff when the defendant defaults (fails to appear in court)
- surrejoinder (law) a pleading by the plaintiff in reply to the defendant's rejoinder
- non prosequitur a judgment entered in favor of the defendant when the plaintiff has not continued his action (e.g., has not appeared in court)