In civil litigation, what is the party who initiates the lawsuit called?

• A. Defendant
• B. Plaintiff
• C. Judge
• D. Witness

Answer: (B)

In civil litigation, the party who starts the case is the plaintiff. This person files the complaint with the court, describing the facts, the legal claims, and the relief sought (such as damages or an injunction). The plaintiff is the one who brings the dispute to court and, in many systems, carries the burden of proving the claims by the applicable standard of proof. The other main participant mentioned in the scenario, the defendant, is simply the party being sued and defending against the claims. The judge is the official who oversees the proceedings, and a witness provides testimony. So the initiating party is labeled the plaintiff because that role is defined as the one who brings the action and seeks relief.