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pleading

pleading

18 7.7
A written statement a person files in court to say their claims and defenses
  • noun
  • /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
  • Formal
translation icon : escrito procesal
  • The lawyer submitted a detailed pleading to the court outlining her client's defense.
  • special pleading
  • Pleading requirements
  • Pleading review

Bradley, as Ashley Merchant has said would happen in this pleading, then we won't need the text messages.

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Examples

  • Yes, Sir, I've been ordered to serve you this pleading.

  • We will hear the pleadings of both sides, and at the end, we will come to a verdict on each count.

  • The original pleading, in effect, provided the entire basis on which to determine a case.

    Academic text (2010)
  • No decent lawyer would even file the pleadings.

  • Some questions have been raised in the pleadings as to our jurisdiction to make such declarations.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The Field Code's ultimate goal of simplifying the pleading process, however, failed to materialize.

    Academic text (2010)
  • New York State expressly allows inconsistent pleadings.

  • I read the pleadings.

  • During the trial, the judge carefully reviewed all the pleadings submitted by both parties.

  • His pleading contained several important claims that could influence the outcome of the case.

Synonyms

pleading in the alternative
vspleading
  • Formal
1 9.9

A court statement that gives different facts or claims to use later

is the standard formal court statement not presenting alternative sets
alternative pleading
vspleading
  • Formal
9.2

A court paper that gives different, sometimes opposite, versions of facts so a lawyer can use any that fit

is the general formal written statement covering claims or defenses
affirmative pleading
vspleading
  • Formal
9.9

A defendant's statement giving new facts to defeat the plaintiff's claim

is the general formal written statement rather than a defensive fact based claim
special pleading
vspleading
  • Jargon
9.1

A legal document that adds new facts to answer an accusation

is the general formal written statement not focused on avoiding allegations

Compounds

A court statement that gives different facts or claims to use later

An argument that ignores bad evidence to seem true

9.9

A legal document filed in court that has errors or missing information

A defendant's statement giving new facts to defeat the plaintiff's claim

A court paper that gives different, sometimes opposite, versions of facts so a lawyer can use any that fit

9.1

A legal document that adds new facts to answer an accusation

How Adequate

pleading
  • Formal
18 7.7
defective pleading
  • Jargon
9.9

Surface Forms

pleading singular
pleadings plural

Morphology

pleading = plead (semi-transparent) = plead + ing

Formally derived from 'plead' + the nominalizing '-ing', but the specific legal noun meaning 'a filed court document' is a specialized sense not obvious to a general B1 learner.

Etymology

Pleading comes from the old word plea, meaning a 'request' or claim made to a court, and for a long time it has meant a formal written or spoken statement that explains a party's case. So a legal pleading is simply a formal 'plea' that tells the court your side of the story.