Legal Definitions - nominal plaintiff

A nominal plaintiff is a party to a lawsuit who has no control over it and no financial interest in its outcome. They are joined in the lawsuit to avoid procedural defects, even though they have no real stake in the matter.

For example, in a garnishment action, a disinterestedstakeholder may be named as a nominal plaintiff. They have no interest in the outcome of the lawsuit, but their inclusion helps to ensure that the legal process is followed correctly.

Another example of a nominal plaintiff is a person who is named in a writ or complaint as a party in a suit, but who does not actually exist. This is known as a fictitious party.

Overall, a nominal plaintiff is a party who is included in a lawsuit for procedural reasons, rather than because they have a real interest in the outcome.