法律英语每日一词9-Complaint

Complaint  n.

一、释义

1） The initial pleading that starts a civil action and states that basis for the court's jurisdiction, the basis for the plaintiff's claim, and the demand for relief.

【美】民事起诉状，依据民事诉讼规则或法律开始一项民事诉讼的文书，起诉人应在其中简要说明法院具有管辖权的根据并阐明要求获得法律救济的请求。起诉状应和传票令【writ of summons]一起送达被告人。

2)  Criminal Law. A formal charge accusing a person of an offense. 

【美】刑事控告书，依《联邦刑事诉讼规则》【Fed.R.Crim.P】，指由受害人、警察、地区检察官或其他利害关系人向有管辖权的联邦司法官【magistrate】提出的说明某一犯罪行为已经发生的文书，其中应述明构成其所指控罪行的重要事实。

虽然提出控告书旨在指控犯罪，但在诉讼中正式的起诉书应为大陪审团起诉书[indictment]或检察官起诉书[information]。如果控告书中存在可成立的理由[probable cause]表明指称的某人实施了该犯罪，即可据此对该人签发逮捕令。

二、词组精选

counter-complaint  反诉诉状

A complaint filed by a defendant against the plaintiff, alleging that the plaintiff has committed a breach and is liable to the defendant for damages.

criminal complaint   刑事起诉书

A formal charging instrument by which a person is accused of a crime, usu, a misdemeanor or violation in a sworn statement.

preliminary complaint  初步控告书

A complaint issued by a court to obtain jurisdiction over a criminal suspect for hearing on probable cause or on whether to bind the suspect over for trial.

法院为取得对犯罪嫌疑人的管辖权而签发的犯罪控告书，并依此进行有关合理根据【probable cause】或是否应对犯罪嫌疑人羁押以交付审【bond over】的听审。

supplemental complaint  补充起诉状

A additional complaint that either corrects a defect in the original complaint or adds relevant matters that occurred after the action began.

依联邦及多数州的民事诉讼规则，指在诉讼过程中，原告为将某些在诉讼开始后发生的、且可能影响其主张的权利的事项提请法院和对方当事人注意而提出的诉状。

third-party complaint  追加第三方为被告

A complaint filed by the defendant against a third party, alleging that the third party may be liable for some or all of the damages that the plaintiff is trying to recover from the defendant.

(来源：Black's Law Dictionary, 《元照英美法词典》，《英汉法律用语词典》）