In legal terminology, a
complaint is any formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see:
cause of action) that the
filing party or parties (the
plaintiff(s)) believes are sufficient to support a claim against the party or parties against whom the claim is brought (the
defendant(s)) that entitles the plaintiff(s) to a
remedy (either
money damages or
injunctive relief). For example, the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) that govern civil litigation in
United States courts provide that a civil action is commenced with the filing or service of a pleading called a complaint. Civil court rules in states that have incorporated the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure use the same term for the same pleading.