complaint
N. U.S. in civil cases, a written statement filed by the plaintiff that starts a case. It says what the plaintiff thinks the defendant did and asks the court for help. Also called the initial pleading or petition. A complaint is also used to start a criminal case.

The complaint for declaratory judgement was filed in the U.S.District Court for the Northern District of California on December 9,1988.

N.B. You file a complaint

see claim