beklagte

Beklagte is a legal term used in German-language civil procedure to designate the party against whom a lawsuit is brought. The masculine form is der Beklagte, the feminine form die Beklagte, and the plural is die Beklagten. The Beklagte is the defendant or respondent in a civil action, counterpart to der Kläger or die Klägerin (the plaintiff).

Usage and context: In civil litigation, a plaintiff (Kläger/Klägerin) files a complaint with the court against the Beklagte. The Beklagte may be an individual or a legal entity (such as a company) and may later be required to respond with a defense. The response is typically submitted within a prescribed period and may take the form of a Klageerwiderung or other pleadings. The court then conducts proceedings and issues a judgment binding on the Beklagte, subject to appeal.

Regional variations: The term Beklagte is used in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking jurisdictions, with minor procedural differences reflected in each country’s civil procedure code (for example, the German Zivilprozessordnung and the Austrian Zivilprozessordnung).

Relation to criminal law: In criminal proceedings, the analogous terms are Beschuldigter or Angeklagter. Beklagte is generally reserved for civil or administrative litigation, not criminal cases.

Examples: "Der Beklagte bestreitet die Forderung." "Die Beklagte hat Akten vorgelegt." In court documents, the label appears beside the party's name and is referenced in rulings and notices.

See also: Klage, Kläger/Klägerin, Prozessbeteiligte, ZPO (or respective civil procedure codes).