What is the term for the party who files a petition in a civil case?

What is the term for the party who files a petition in a civil case?

• A. Defendant
• B. Respondent
• C. Plaintiff
• D. Petitioner

Answer: (C)

In civil cases, the person who starts the case by filing the formal pleading with the court is called the plaintiff. The petition (or complaint) is the document that lays out the plaintiff’s claims and the relief sought. The defendant is the party being sued and responds to those claims. While the term petitioner is used in certain specialized proceedings, the standard term for the party who file the petition in a typical civil action is the plaintiff.

In civil cases, the person who starts the case by filing the formal pleading with the court is called the plaintiff. The petition (or complaint) is the document that lays out the plaintiff’s claims and the relief sought. The defendant is the party being sued and responds to those claims. While the term petitioner is used in certain specialized proceedings, the standard term for the party who file the petition in a typical civil action is the plaintiff.