Which party is the defendant?

Asked by: Leann Schmeler II  |  Last update: August 18, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (45 votes)

The defendant is the party that's sued by the plaintiff. A counterclaim occurs when a defendant brings a claim against the plaintiff. When this happens, the defendant becomes a "counter-plaintiff" with regard to the counterclaim created against the plaintiff.

Who is the defendant of the case?

defendant - In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Which party is the plaintiff?

Parties include plaintiff (person filing suit), defendant (person sued or charged with a crime), petitioner (files a petition asking for a court ruling), respondent (usually in opposition to a petition or an appeal), cross-complainant (a defendant who sues someone else in the same lawsuit), or cross-defendant (a person ...

Is the plaintiff the first party?

(In the trial court, the first name listed is the plaintiff, the party bringing the suit. The name following the "v" is the defendant. If the case is appealed, as in this example, the name of the petitioner (appellant) is usually listed first, and the name of the respondent (appellee) is listed second.

Is the petitioner the defendant?

The petitioner is the party who presents a petition to the court. On appeal, the petitioner is usually the party who lost in the lower court. This can be either the plaintiff or defendant from the court below, as either of the parties can present the case to a higher court for further proceedings. See also respondent.

Who are the Parties in a Lawsuit (Defendant, Plaintiff, etc.)? | Legal Parties Explained

25 related questions found

Who is the plaintiff?

A plaintiff is the person who initiates a legal claim. The defendant is the person who then defends the claim. Eventually in the course of a normal court case, there will be a trial and then the judge which make a decision about the dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant.

Is the plaintiff the respondent?

The plaintiff is the person who brings a lawsuit to court. In civil law cases, the plaintiff is also sometimes referred to as the claimant—that is, the person bringing a claim against another person. The other party in a civil lawsuit is the defendant or respondent (the one who responds to the suit).

Who is defendant and who is plaintiff?

The person who sues is called the plaintiff. The person being sued is called the defendant.

Is the victim the defendant?

Victim: an individual who has suffered direct physical, emotional, or economic harm as a result of the commission of a crime. Defendant: the person accused of committing a crime.

Who is claimant and defendant?

The “claimant” is the person who has been injured and who would be making a claim for their injuries. The word “plaintiff” isn't used until there is a lawsuit started. The party responsible for the plaintiff's injuries is known as the “defendant.”

Who are the parties in criminal case?

The Accused Person. An accused is a party in a criminal proceeding and is the person against whom criminal proceedings have been instituted. The Code of Criminal Procedure refers to the accused by different names based on the ongoing stage of the trial.

Who can be plaintiff?

All persons whose right to relief arises out of the same act or transaction or series of acts or transactions may be joined as Plaintiffs. The test is whether any common question of law or fact would arise if such persons brought separate suits (Order 1 Rule 1).

What are the 2 sides in court called?

Names of the sides. In criminal trials, the state's side, represented by a district attorney, is called the prosecution. In civil trials, the side making the charge of wrongdoing is called the plaintiff. (The side charged with wrongdoing is called the defendant in both criminal and civil trials.)

What does defendant mean in court?

In a civil matter, the party sued by the plaintiff; in a criminal matter, the party who is prosecuted.

Who is the defendant and prosecutor?

In a criminal trial, a defendant is a person accused (charged) of committing an offense (a crime; an act defined as punishable under criminal law). The other party to a criminal trial is usually a public prosecutor, but in some jurisdictions, private prosecutions are allowed.

What is a plaintiff in court?

plaintiff, the party who brings a legal action or in whose name it is brought—as opposed to the defendant, the party who is being sued.

What does it mean if you are the defendant?

: a person or group against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : someone who is being sued or accused of committing a crime if the jury finds the defendant not guilty — compare plaintiff. defendant.

What is an example of a defendant?

In a criminal case, the defendant is the person accused of committing a crime. For example, if someone is accused of murder, the government will bring a criminal case against them. The government is the plaintiff, and the accused is the defendant.

What is another word for plaintiff?

In this page you can discover 19 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for plaintiff, like: accuser, complainant, prosecutor, claimant, pursuer, litigant, defendant, the-prosecution, debtor, suer and tortfeasor.

What's the opposite of plaintiff?

Antonyms: defendant, suspect. a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused.

What is a petitioner vs respondent?

"Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee.

Is the defendant the respondent?

The defendant in a lawsuit is the person against whom the action is brought, by the plaintiff. A defendant in an arbitration case or a divorce case is called the "respondent." U.S. Law has two kinds of court cases which involve defendants: Criminal cases, which involve a defendant who is accused of a crime.

Am I the claimant or defendant?

As the person issuing the claim, you are called the 'claimant'. Please enter your name and address. The person you are suing is called the 'defendant'.

What does party mean in court?

In legal parlance, a party is a person or entity who takes part in a legal transaction, for example a person with an immediate interest in an agreement or deed, or a plaintiff or a defendant in a lawsuit.