difference between defendant and respondent
The role of the defendant is drastically different, however. In a lawsuit, the defendantâs aim is to disprove the allegations against him. A major difference between a plaintiff and a defendant is that the plaintiff must present a case. Technically, a defendant could remain silent in a lawsuit and merely leave the burden on the plaintiff. For a defendant to proceed through a lawsuit without presenting any evidence or arguments is not a common strategy.
Variables petitioner and respondent provide detailed information about all parties, except the identity of the state if a state (or one of its subdivisions) is a party, petitioner and respondent variables note only whether a state is a party, not the state's name.