A document filed with the court to state the position of the plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit and to ask for relief from the court is called a pleading.
Explanation:
- Pleading is a formal written statement submitted by a party in a lawsuit.
- It outlines the party’s claims, defenses, or responses.
- Examples of pleadings include:
- Complaint (filed by the plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit and state the claims)
- Answer (filed by the defendant to respond to the complaint)
- Counterclaim (filed by the defendant to assert claims against the plaintiff)
- Motion (requests for specific court orders or relief)
These documents are essential to the litigation process as they frame the issues to be decided by the court.
