Legal Definitions - articulated pleading

Articulated pleading is a formal document in which a party to a legal proceeding sets forth or responds to allegations, claims, denials, or defenses. It is a system of defining and narrowing the issues in a lawsuit whereby the parties file formal documents alleging their respective positions. Articulated pleading states each allegation in a separately numbered paragraph.

For example, in federal civil procedure, the main pleadings are the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's answer. An amended pleading replaces an earlier pleading and contains matters omitted from or not known at the time of the earlier pleading. A supplemental pleading either corrects a defect in an earlier pleading or addresses facts arising since the earlier pleading was filed.

These examples illustrate how articulated pleading is a formal way of presenting legal claims and defenses in a lawsuit. Each allegation is clearly stated in a separate paragraph, making it easier for the court to understand the parties' positions and to decide the case based on the merits of the claims and defenses.