Pleadings

n. argument, argument; claim, suit

In law, a pleading is one of the papers filed with a court in a civil action, such as a complaint, a demurrer, or an answer. A complaint is the first pleading filed by a plaintiff which initiates a lawsuit. A complaint sets forth the relevant allegations of fact that give rise to one or more legal causes of action along with a prayer for relief whereas a demurrer is a pleading filed by a defendant which challenges the legal sufficiency of a complaint and an answer is a pleading which admits or denies the specific allegations set forth in a complaint and constitutes a general appearance by a defendant. A defendant may also file a cross-complaint as well as bringing other parties into a case by the process of impleader.
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Noun
1. (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
(hypernym) statement
(hyponym) affirmative pleading
(part-meronym) bill of Particulars
(derivation) plead
(classification) law, jurisprudence
Adjective
1. expressing earnest entreaty; "the appealing and frightened look worn by an injured dog"; "she holds out her hand for money, importunate, insistent"; "a pleading note in her voice"
(synonym) appealing, imploring, importunate
(similar) beseeching

(n. pl.)
The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point.
  

That part of a party's case in which he or she formally sets out the facts and legal arguments which support that party's position. - (read more on Pleadings)