Courts and procedure
Plaintiff
The person or organization that files a civil lawsuit.[1]
In more detail
The plaintiff starts the case with a complaint; the other side is the defendant.[1] In Florida's court arbitration, a plaintiff who rejects the award and does much worse at trial may have to pay costs and fees.[2]
Varies by state
This is the federal courts' definition; state courts use the word the same way, though procedures differ by state. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- DefendantIn a civil case, the person or organization being sued; in a criminal case, the person accused of a crime.
- ComplaintThe written statement a plaintiff files to start a civil case, saying why the court has jurisdiction, what the defendant allegedly did wrong, and what the plaintiff wants.
- PetitionerThe person who starts a court case by filing a petition, such as a petition for divorce.
- DamagesMoney a defendant must pay a plaintiff who wins a civil case.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Plaintiff: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/plaintiff/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.