Respondent
The respondent is the party against whom a petition is filed, especially one on appeal. The respondent can be either the plaintiff or the defendant from the court below, as either party can appeal the decision thereby making themselves the petitioner and their adversary the respondent. Formerly, in the equity courts of common law, the defendant was always called the respondent. see also petitioner.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
A term used instead of defendant or appellee in some states -- especially for divorce and other family law cases -- to identify the party who is sued and must respond to the petitioner's complaint.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:23 pm
