Legal Definitions - placitare

Placitare refers to the act of formally presenting a legal argument or initiating a lawsuit within a court of law. It encompasses the process of filing a complaint, responding to allegations, or otherwise engaging in the formal pleading stage of litigation.

• Example 1: Initiating a Civil Lawsuit

  A small business owner discovers that a software vendor failed to deliver the promised functionality, causing significant financial losses. The owner decides to placitare by instructing their attorney to draft and file a formal complaint against the software vendor in court, thereby initiating a lawsuit to recover damages. This action of bringing the case before the court is an example of placitare.

• Example 2: Responding to a Legal Claim

  A landlord receives a summons and complaint from a former tenant alleging wrongful eviction. To defend against these claims, the landlord must placitare by having their lawyer prepare and submit a formal answer to the court, outlining their defense and denying the tenant's allegations. This formal response to the legal action is also an instance of placitare.