Who is the party that initiates the legal action by filing the complaint?

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

Answer: (A)

The starting point is who brings the case to court. The party who files the complaint is the plaintiff. By submitting the complaint, the plaintiff lays out the facts, the legal claims, and the relief sought, beginning the legal action and notifying the court and the defendant that a dispute exists. The defendant is the party being sued and must respond to those claims. A judge is the official who oversees the case and applies the law, not the initiator. A witness is someone who provides testimony. In civil actions, the act of filing a complaint identifies the plaintiff as the initiator of the action.