The plaintiff’s petition or complaint is the document filed with the court and delivered to the defendant (served) that initiates a lawsuit and puts the defendant on notice of the plaintiff’s claims against the defendant and the relief the plaintiff is asking the court to award (usually money or injunctive relief).
In Oregon, the plaintiff's petition or complaint is the initial legal document filed with a court to start a civil lawsuit. This document outlines the plaintiff's legal claims against the defendant and specifies the type of relief sought, which can include monetary damages or injunctive relief. Once the complaint is filed, it must be properly served on the defendant, which provides official notice of the lawsuit and the claims contained within. Service of process must be carried out in accordance with Oregon's rules of civil procedure, which dictate how and when documents must be delivered to the defendant to ensure their right to due process is upheld. The defendant then has a specific period of time to respond to the complaint, typically by filing an answer or a motion to dismiss, to address the plaintiff's allegations.