complainant
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Complainant
A plaintiff; a person who commences a civil lawsuit against another, known as the defendant, in order to remedy an alleged wrong. An individual who files a written accusation with the police charging a suspect with the commission of a crime and providing facts to support the allegation and which results in the criminal prosecution of the suspect.
Once the suspect is indicted, the state becomes the complainant since the alleged wrong is considered a crime against the state.
West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
complainant
n. a person or entity who begins a lawsuit by filing a complaint, and is usually called the plaintiff, or in some cases the petitioner. (See: complaint, plaintiff, petitioner)
Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.
complainant
the person who makes a criminal complaint in England. See COMPLAINER.Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006
COMPLAINANT. One who makes a complaint. A plaintiff in a suit in chancery is so called.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.