Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes > Chapter 283 > Subchapter I - Policy and Purpose

• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
• Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
• State: when applied to states of the United States, includes the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the several territories organized by Congress. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01