what is a plaintiff

A plaintiff is a party who initiates a lawsuit before a court, seeking a legal remedy. In a civil matter, the plaintiff is the party who sues another person or group for some wrongdoing. The term "plaintiff" is used in most English-speaking jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Nigeria, among others. In England and Wales, a plaintiff is known as a "claimant," while in Scotland, the party has always been known as the "pursuer". In a civil lawsuit, the plaintiffs name is generally listed first, while the defendant is named second. In criminal cases, the person charged is still referred to as the defendant, and the term plaintiff is replaced by complainant in most cases.