The Ultimate Legal Dictionary
PracticePanther compiled a list of the legal terms and definitions every
attorney, paralegal, and law student needs to know when running a law firm.
Defendant
DEFINITION
The term defendant is used in both civil law and criminal law. In civil cases the defendant is the person against whom a plaintiff files a petition and seeks relief, usually in the form of monetary damages. In criminal cases the defendant (also known as the accused) is charged by the state with a crime.
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