Civil procedure
Complaint
A complaint is the document that starts a civil lawsuit, naming the parties, telling the court why it has jurisdiction, and laying out the claims.
It has to give the defendant fair notice of what the case is about. Federal pleading standards require enough factual matter to make each claim plausible, not merely possible, which is why modern complaints read like narratives rather than one-line accusations.
The complaint fixes the shape of the case. It sets the claims that discovery will chase and the ones a motion to dismiss will attack, and amending it later requires either the other side's consent or the court's permission.
It is also the most useful document for anyone trying to understand a case quickly. One complaint gives you the parties, the theory, the timeline, and the relief sought, which is more context than any number of later procedural filings.
How it appears on a docket
COMPLAINT against Acme Logistics, Inc. filed by Maria Rodriguez. (Filing fee $405 receipt number ANYSDC-28471003) (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A)
Governing rule
Fed. R. Civ. P. 3, 8
Related terms
- Answer — An answer is the defendant's written response to a complaint, admitting or denying each allegation and raising any defenses.
- Motion to Dismiss — A motion to dismiss asks the court to throw out some or all of a case without reaching the facts, usually because the complaint is legally defective.
More on civil procedure
See this term in a real case
Search federal court records and read the filings where complaint actually shows up. New to federal dockets? Start with how to find a federal case.