Plaintiff - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Plaintiff :  (noun)

1: a person who brings an action in a court of law [syn: complainant] [ant: defendant]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Plaintiff : \Plain"tiff\, n. [F. plaintif making complaint, plaintive; in Old French equiv. to plaignant complainant, prosecutor, fr. plaindre. See Plaint, and cf. Plaintive.] (Law) One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; -- opposed to defendant.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Plaintiff : \Plain"tiff\, a. See Plaintive. [Obs.] --Prior.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

PLAINTIFF, practice. He who, in a personal action, seeks a remedy for an injury to his rights. Ham. on Parties, h.t.; 1 Chit. Pl. Index, h.t.; Chit. Pr. Index, h.t.; 1 Com. Dig. 36, 205, 308. 2. Plaintiffs are legal or equitable. The legalPlaintiff : is he in whom the legal title or cause of action is vested. The equitable plaintiff is he who, not having the legal title, yet, is in equity entitled to the thing sued for; for example, when a suit is brought by Benjamin Franklin for the use of Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin is the legal, and Robert Morris the equitable plaintiff. This is the usual manner of bringing suit, when the cause of action is not assignable at law, but is so in equity. Vide Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t.; Parties to Actions.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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