What is the term for the person or business that initiates a lawsuit against another party?

The term for the person or business that initiates a lawsuit is "the plaintiff." In legal terms, the plaintiff is the party who files a legal complaint in court against another party, seeking a legal remedy for a perceived wrong. This role is critical in the context of civil litigation, where the plaintiff is responsible for presenting their case and providing evidence to support their claims.

Understanding this concept is important as it establishes the dynamic of the legal proceedings, with the plaintiff seeking to enforce rights or obtain compensation, while the opposing party, generally referred to as the defendant, responds to the allegations brought against them. In contrast, terms like victim and accused pertain to criminal law contexts, where one party has been wronged, and the other is charged with a crime, respectively. Hence, knowing the correct terminology is essential for navigating legal terminology accurately.