The formal procedure by which a legal proceeding is initiated. Civil law suits commence when the party suing files a written complaint or petition with the court. Criminal proceedings are typically commenced by a prosecutor filing a petition with the court or seeking an indictment from a grand jury.
Category: Accidents & Injuries
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.