plaintiff
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Plaintiff
The party who sues in a civil action; a complainant; the prosecution—that is, a state or the United States representing the people—in a criminal case.
plaintiff
n. the party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint with the clerk of the court against the defendant(s) demanding damages, performance and/or court determination of rights. (See: complaint, defendant, petitioner)
plaintiff
the person bringing an action in court. In England and Wales now a claimant. For Scotland called a pursuer.PLAINTIFF, practice. He who, in a personal action, seeks a remedy for an
injury to his rights. Ham. on Parties, h.t.; 1 Chit. Pl. Index, h.t.; Chit.
Pr. Index, h.t.; 1 Com. Dig. 36, 205, 308.
2. Plaintiffs are legal or equitable. The legal plaintiff is he in whom
the legal title or cause of action is vested. The equitable plaintiff is he
who, not having the legal title, yet, is in equity entitled to the thing
sued for; for example, when a suit is brought by Benjamin Franklin for the
use of Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin is the legal, and Robert Morris the
equitable plaintiff. This is the usual manner of bringing suit, when the
cause of action is not assignable at law, but is so in equity. Vide Bouv.
Inst. Index, h.t.; Parties to Actions.