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noun

The initial pleading of a plaintiff in a civil action that identifies the courtÂ’s jurisdiction, the alleged facts that entitle the plaintiff to relief, and the relief sought. See also ad damnum clause, bill, petition, and prayer.

amended complaint

A complaint that substitutes for the original complaint and adds to, corrects, revises, or subtracts from the alleged facts contained in the original complaint.

criminal complaint

A document, signed and sworn to by a victim or witness to a crime or by a police officer, alleging facts that give rise to a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed and that a person named in the instrument committed that crime. Also called a complaint.

third-party complaint

A complaint by the defendant in a civil action against a person or entity who is not a party to the proceeding, to whom the defendant alleges a right of contribution or indemnity from that person, should the defendant be found liable to the plaintiff. See also action.

well-pleaded complaint

A complaint in a civil action that identifies the courtÂ’s jurisdiction, the alleged facts that entitle the plaintiff to relief, and the relief sought in a manner sufficient for the defendant to respond to the issues contained therein.

The Pleading that initiates a civil action; in Criminal Law, the document that sets forth the basis upon which a person is to be charged with an offense.