A person who lodges a complaint (with an ombudsman, against a government official or body, for example) is a ‘complainant’.

What do you call the person or body against whom the complaint was lodged, i.e., what is the antonym of complainant?

Defendant

DJ

Interesting. While I’m certainly not disputing DJ’s reply, it raises an interesting point. If the compaint to a state  ombudsman leads to prosecution, then the plaintiff may be the state; so would the defendant. How would that work, I wonder?

I know the Swedish ombudsmen (such as the Justice Ombudsman (JO)) are appointed and paid by parliament and are only answerable to that body. I’m not sure how this works in other countries.

- PW

. How would that work,

It can certainly lead to a confilict of interest, or the appearance of one.

DJ

I learned another answer to this query yesterday: Respondent.

DJ

[quote author=demijohn link=board=what;num=1055103093;start=0#4 date=06/11/03 at 16:04:53]I learned another answer to this query yesterday: Respondent.

DJ

Yes! That’s the word I was looking for. Thank you.

From the AHD:

———-
respondent n.

1. One who responds.
2. Law A defendant, especially in a divorce or equity case.
———-

You’re wlecome.

DJ

[quote author=demijohn link=board=what;num=1055103093;start=0#4 date=06/11/03 at 16:04:53]I learned another answer to this query yesterday: Respondent.

I suppose that’s why the third party is called a co-respondent ? Amazing what one can do with a couple of letters and a hyphen !...

Henri