What are pleadings in a court case?

Pleadings in a court case are fundamentally documents that detail the claims and defenses of the parties involved. These documents form the basis of the litigation process, as they initiate the legal action and outline the issues to be resolved by the court. Typically, the plaintiff's pleading, such as a statement of claim, sets forth the basis for the legal action and what they are seeking, while the defendant's pleading, such as a statement of defense, addresses those claims and provides their own arguments or defenses.

Pleadings play a critical role in the judicial process as they allow both parties and the court to understand the nature of the disagreement and the points of contention. This clarity is essential for the overall management of the case, including setting the stage for discovery and trial.

In contrast, witness testimonies are oral statements made in court during a trial, and legal arguments expressed verbally happen during court hearings but are not categorized as pleadings. Summary judgments, on the other hand, are judicial rulings made without a full trial and relate to the resolution of disputes based on the pleadings and available evidence, rather than being classified as pleadings themselves.