Hewitt and Hewitt Mediators
GLOSSARY of TERMS
Attorney: Legal counsel, licensed by the state, who represents the Plaintiff or Defendant.
Caucus: A private meeting of any two or more people involved in a mediation.
Cause: Another name for a court case, a cause of action. A cause is “styled” with the name of the Plaintiff and Defendant: Somebody vs Somebody-else.
Defendant: The person against whom the suit is brought.
Et al: Short for “and others.”
Initiator: Person who brings a complaint against another outside a court of law that calls for mediation. The Initiator is equivalent to the Plaintiff.
Judge: The final decider.
Lawyer: Another name for an attorney.
Litigation: Action in court regarding a lawsuit. A lawyer who practices law in a courtroom is called a litigator.
Party: A Plaintiff, Initiator, Defendant, or Respondent. They are all parties to the conflict. A corporation or other entity can initiate a lawsuit or action that requires mediation. In that case the corporation is a party.
Plaintiff: The person who brings a lawsuit against someone else.
Pro se: The Plaintiff or Defendant in a lawsuit who represents himself without the aid of an attorney.
Respondent: Person against whom the complaint is made. He/she is equivalent of a Defendant.