Also known as: part
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A party to an action. The term identifies any person or entity that participates in litigation as plaintiff, defendant, or intervenor.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Pablo Perez took a wallet from a counter and moved it several feet toward the door before being stopped. The prosecution named Pablo as the pars in the larceny action. The slight movement satisfied the asportation element and supported conviction.
Pavel Petrov, a taxpayer, sued the federal government claiming a new excise tax violated uniformity requirements. The court treated Pavel as the pars asserting the constitutional claim under Article I. The suit proceeded because the tax applied nationwide.
Paula Pierce, a former agency lawyer, sought to represent a private client adverse to a person whose confidential records she had reviewed. The ethics board identified Paula as the pars barred by the rule. Screening within her new firm allowed the representation to continue.
Parker Phillips lived with his daughter after the mother's death. State officials removed the child without a hearing. The court recognized Parker as the pars entitled to due process before severance of the parental relationship.
Penelope Price died survived by two children and no spouse. The probate court named the children as the pars entitled to take the estate by representation under the statute. Each received an equal share.
Priscilla Parks transferred her mortgaged home without lender consent. The mortgagee accelerated the debt and named Priscilla as the pars in the foreclosure action. The due-on-sale clause permitted acceleration under federal law.
It designates any participant in an action, whether plaintiff, defendant, or intervenor. The label appears in older authorities to identify those bound by or asserting rights in the proceeding.
…he ought not be compelled to answer anything that might tend to criminate himself. Mr. Lee replied that in discharging one part of his duties the Secretary acts as a public ministerial officer independent of the President and is bound to answer as any other ministerial officer; in the other part he acts as agent of…