Pleadings

Written statements filed with the court which describe a party's legal or factual assertions about the case.

Additional Sources

Answers.com

A formal statement, generally written, propounding the cause of action or the defense in a case.

The consecutive statements, allegations, and counterallegations made by plaintiff and defendant, or prosecutor and accused, in a legal proceeding.

Duhaime Legal Dictionary

That formal court documents in which a litigant formally sets out the facts and legal arguments which support that the person's position.

Depending on the nature of the claim, this can be either the Petition or the set of a statement of claim and a statement of defence.

Pleadings can be in writing or they can exceptionally be made verbally to a court, during a hearing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In law, written presentation by a litigant in a lawsuit setting forth the facts upon which he claims legal relief or challenges the claims of his opponent. A pleading includes claims and counterclaims but not the evidence by which the litigant intends to prove his case.

After both the plaintiff and the defendant have made their initial statements, there may be further pleadings, such as a reply, a rejoinder, and even a surrejoinder. It is open to either party to apply to strike out his opponent’s pleading, or parts thereof, on the grounds that it disclosed no cause of action or defense or on certain other grounds. Likewise, either party may seek further particulars of his opponent’s pleading, and the court may order that these be furnished. If a factual allegation is not refuted or denied, it is assumed to be admitted.

The rules make provision for the joinder of other parties whose participation is considered necessary by the court. Thus, a defendant under English law may issue a notice—called a third-party notice—containing a statement of the nature of the claim made by him against a third party, relevant to the original subject matter of the action or of issues to be determined. A third party has the same rights against the defendant as the latter has against the plaintiff; he may bring in a fourth party, who may bring in a fifth, and so on.

Law.com Dictionary

n. 1) every legal document filed in a lawsuit, petition, motion and/or hearing, including complaint, petition, answer, demurrer, motion, declaration and memorandum of points and authorities (written argument citing precedents and statutes). Laypersons should be aware that, except possibly for petitions from prisoners, pleadings are required by state or federal statutes and/or court rules to be of a particular form and format: typed, signed, dated, with the name of the court, title and number of the case, name, address and telephone number of the attorney or person acting for himself/herself (in pro per) included. 2) the act of preparing and presenting legal documents and arguments. Good pleading is an art: clear, logical, well-organized and comprehensive.

Lect Law Library

Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer. The claim, answer, counterclaim, and/or third-party claim filed in an action.

Merriam Webster

1 : advocacy of a cause in a court of law

2 a : one of the formal usually written allegations and counter allegations made alternately by the parties in a legal action or proceeding b : the action or process performed by the parties in presenting such formal allegations until a single point at issue is produced c : the introduction of one of these allegations and especially the first one d : the body of rules according to which these allegations are framed

3 : the act or an instance of making a plea

4 : a sincere entreaty

Wikipedia

In law as practiced in countries that follow the English models, a pleading is a formal written statement filed with a court by parties in a civil action, such as a complaint, a demurrer, or an answer. A complaint is the first pleading filed by a plaintiff which initiates a lawsuit. A complaint sets forth the relevant allegations of fact that give rise to one or more legal causes of action along with a prayer for relief. In some situations, a complaint is called a petition, in which case the party filing it is called the petitioner and the other party is the respondent. A demurrer is a pleading filed by a defendant which challenges the legal sufficiency of a complaint; an answer is a pleading which admits or denies the specific allegations set forth in a complaint and constitutes a general appearance by a defendant. A defendant may also file a cross-complaint as well as bringing other parties into a case by the process of impleader.