A plaintiff is the party who initiates a civil lawsuit, seeking compensation, action, or resolution from another party (the defendant). In civil litigation, plaintiffs bear the burden of proving their claims. Municipalities may be plaintiffs when suing to recover unpaid taxes, enforce contracts, protect municipal interests, or seek compensation for damages. More commonly, municipalities are defendants facing claims from citizens or businesses. Understanding plaintiff/defendant terminology helps staff and elected officials follow legal proceedings and communicate about municipal litigation. The distinction matters for understanding who must prove what and who bears litigation costs in various scenarios.