What is a complaint in legal terms?

In legal terms, a complaint is a formal legal document that initiates a lawsuit. It outlines the plaintiff's allegations, the relevant facts, and the legal basis for the claim against the defendant. Essentially, it serves as the first step in the legal process, providing the court with the essential outlines of the dispute and the relief sought by the plaintiff. By filing a complaint, the plaintiffs officially present their case and seek remedy or justice from the court system.

While the other options reference elements of legal proceedings, they do not define a complaint accurately. For instance, the final ruling of a judge pertains to the outcome of a case, not the initiation of one. A request for a legal review process may refer to an appeal, whereas evidence presented during a trial involves the information examined in the course of litigation, rather than the foundational document that starts a case. Thus, identifying the complaint as the first document is critical in understanding its role in the legal framework.