Which term is defined as a formal written statement of the facts and claims presented by all parties in a lawsuit?

• A. Allegation
• B. Complaint
• C. Pleading
• D. Cause of Action

Answer: (C)

Pleadings are the formal written statements that set out the facts, legal claims, and relief sought by each party in a lawsuit. They establish what each side contends and frame the issues the court must decide, guiding discovery and procedural steps. This term covers the whole set of documents that articulate the parties’ positions, including the initial filing by the plaintiff and the subsequent responses by the defendant. An allegation is a specific claim within a pleading, not the entire document itself. A complaint is a particular pleading—the initial filing that starts the action. A cause of action is the legal theory that supports a claim, rather than the document that presents the facts.