What is the difference between respondent and complainant?
Asked by: Mr. Jett Bosco PhD | Last update: December 6, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (43 votes)
The Complainant is the person who initiates a Formal Complaint and the Respondent is the person against whom the Formal Complaint is made.
Who is considered the complainant?
Complainant is a party who initiates a lawsuit in a court of law or an administrative proceeding . In the context of criminal law , “complainant” refers to a person who alleges that another committed a criminal act against him/her.
Is the respondent the plaintiff or defendant?
The respondent can be either the plaintiff or the defendant from the court below, as either party can appeal the decision thereby making themselves the petitioner and their adversary the respondent. Formerly, in the equity courts of common law, the defendant was always called the respondent.
What is the respondent of a complaint?
NAMES AND TITLES • The person who files a Complaint of Discrimination is referred to as the “Complainant.” The person or entity against whom the Complaint has been filed is referred to as the “Respondent.”
What is the difference between respondent and complainant in Title IX?
In the Title IX investigation process, individuals bringing forward allegations are referred to as Complainants, and individuals responding to allegations are referred to as Respondents. Sometimes Complainants and Respondents are referred to individually as “a party” or jointly as “the parties.”
Who is called a Plaintiff/Defendant/Petitioner/Respondent -Legal Lotus, Miami Trial & Family Lawyers
Who is a complainant in a Title IX complaint?
The Final Rule defines “complainant” as an individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment. - The Final Rule expressly recognizes the legal rights of parents and guardians to act on behalf of parties (including by filing formal complaints) in Title IX matters.
Is respondent the same as accused?
The Respondent is the term used to describe the person who is accused in, or is responding to, the complaint.
What is the difference between complainant and respondent?
The Complainant is the person who initiates a Formal Complaint and the Respondent is the person against whom the Formal Complaint is made.
What is a complainant in court?
Legal Definition
complainant. noun. com·plain·ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt. : the party (as a plaintiff or petitioner) who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding.
Who is a respondent in an investigation?
Respondent: Individual(s) implicated or accused in the complaint. Witness: A person who has knowledge of the events from personal observation or experience. Witnesses may be identified by the complainant and the respondent. Investigator: The investigator should be an objective party.
Who is called respondent?
A respondent is a person who answers a question, letter, email message, survey, or anything else that requires a response. You can see the word respond, which means "answer or reply to" in respondent.
Who is the defendant or respondent in a civil case?
In a civil case, the defendant is the person or entity being sued. They are responsible for defending themselves against the plaintiff's claims. For example, in a car accident case, the defendant is the person who caused the accident (and/or their insurance company).
What is the opposite of respondent?
Opposite of a person who is being interviewed or questioned. inquirer. interviewer. questioner. nonresponder.
What is another word for complainant?
complainant (noun as in filer of court complaint) Strongest matches. accuser claimant plaintiff. Strong match. suer.
Who would be the complainant?
In civil law, the complainant is the person or entity who files a complaint. In a criminal case, the complainant is the person who was allegedly harmed by the defendant's actions. For example, if someone is accused of stealing a complainant's car, the complainant would be the car owner.
Is defendant the same as complainant?
In criminal cases, the person charged is still referred to as the defendant. However, the term plaintiff is replaced by complainant in most cases. The plaintiff's name is generally listed first while the defendant is named second. So, one can identify the parties by looking at the case name.
What is an example of a complainant?
In law, the person who accuses someone else of wrongdoing is sometimes called the complainant. You are the complainant if you sue your neighbor for building a chicken coop on your property.
Is a victim a complainant?
CMV: a person making an accusation should be referred to as ' the complainant' and not ' the victim. ' In legal matters this is important: The term victim assumes that the person making a complaint is correct.
What is the opposite of a complainant?
(a) Complainant means plaintiff , petitioner, appellant , litigant , so its antonyms can be defendant .
What does respondent mean in court?
In Placer County and throughout California , the respondent is the person being sued in a lawsuit. Another term used is defendant. If your wife files for divorce, for example, she is the petitioner in the case and you are the respondent.
Is a complainant an individual?
A Complainant is an individual who is alleged to be the victim of prohibited conduct under AD 85 (Title IX Policy) or AD 91 (Discrimination & Harassment & Related Inappropriate Conduct Policy). A Respondent is an individual who is alleged to be the perpetrator of such prohibited conduct.
Is the defendant also the respondent?
This term is used in both criminal and civil cases. (The defendant is also sometimes called the “respondent.”) defense attorney – The lawyer who represents the defendant.
What does responded mean in law?
1. To make or file an answer to a bill, libel, or appeal, in tbe character of a respondent, (q. v.) 2. To be liable or answerable; to make satisfaction or amends; as, to “respond in damages.”
What is the word for an accused person in court?
defendant - In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime. defense table - The table where the defense lawyer sits with the defendant in the courtroom.
Is a respondent a witness?
When the petitioner is finished testifying, the respondent may ask some questions–this is called "cross examination". The respondent will be sworn in as a witness and tell his/her side of the story and present evidence.