The act of making a plea. / (law) A document filed in a lawsuit, particularly a document initiating litigation or responding to the initiation of litigation.

That pleads.

present participle of plead

plural of pleading

(Britain, excepting Scotland), still used by some in the US, particularly in legal usage. simple past tense and past participle of plead

(transitive, intransitive, copulative) To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case. / (intransitive) To beg, beseech, or implore. / (transitive) To offer by way of excuse.

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of plead

(US law) The filing under state law of a claim naturally arising under federal law.

plural of artful pleading

plural of shotgun pleading