What is defendant mean in law?
law. : a person or group against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : someone who is being sued or accused of committing a crime if the jury finds the defendant not guilty — compare plaintiff.
Is defendant and plaintiff same?
In civil cases, a plaintiff is the person or group of persons who is accusing another person or group of persons for some wrongdoing and a defendant is a person against whom an action is brought by the plaintiff.
What is the definition of plaintiff in law?
In a civil matter, the party who initiates a lawsuit (against the defendant).
What is a defendant example?
The definition of a defendant is a person being sued or accused of a crime. An example of a defendant is someone accused of driving under the influence. noun. In a criminal trial, the accused; in a civil proceeding, the person or entity against whom a claim is made.
What is the difference between accused and defendant?
An accused is a person charged with an indictable offence heard in a higher court; while a defendant is a person charged with a summary offence, heard before a magistrate in the Local Court.
What is difference between defendant and respondent?
A Defendant refers to a person who is being sued by another party for the first time. A Respondent refers to a person who responds to an appeal or petition filed against him/her. A person typically becomes a Defendant at the commencement of a legal action.
What is a plaintiff example?
The definition of a plaintiff is someone who brings a lawsuit against someone into court. An example of a plaintiff is a wife filing for divorce. noun. The party in a civil law case who brings the action in a court of law. See also defendant.
What is opposite plaintiff?
Antonyms: defendant, suspect. a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused.
Who defends the defendant?
Defense attorney or public defender: The lawyer who defends the accused person.
Who protects the defendant?
The rights of criminal defendants are protected by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth amendments to the Constitution. Although these protections are intended to shield individuals from abuses by the government, the government also has an obligation to safeguard its citizens against criminal activity.
Is defendant and Respondent the same?
The respondent can be either the plaintiff or the defendant from the court below, as either party can appeal the decision thereby making themselves the petitioner and their adversary the respondent. Formerly, in the equity courts of common law, the defendant was always called the respondent.