Party
From LegalLanding
A Party is one of the participants in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding who has an interest in the outcome. Parties include a plaintiff (person filing suit), defendant (person sued or charged with a crime), petitioner (files a petition asking for a court ruling), respondent (usually in opposition to a petition or an appeal), cross-complainant (a defendant who sues someone else in the same lawsuit), or cross-defendant (a person sued by a cross-complainant). A party can also be a person or entity involved in an agreement. Further, lawyers often make a common reference to people or entities involved in lawsuits, contracts, accidents, transactions, as in "the corporation was a party to the contract," or "my client was not a party to the criminal racketeering operation."