"Plaintiff" means a person who files a complaint or cross-complaint.
§ 481.180.Plaintiff
Title 6.5. Attachment · Chapter 1. Words and Phrases Defined · Enacted 1974 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 481.180 defines "plaintiff" for attachment purposes as a person who files a complaint or cross-complaint, extending the term to anyone pursuing a money claim through either a complaint or a cross-complaint.
Full Text of § 481.180
Plain-English Summary
Read together with § 481.060’s extension of "complaint" to include a cross-complaint, this definition confirms that a defendant who cross-complains for money owed can pursue attachment as a plaintiff for purposes of this title, using the same procedures an original plaintiff would use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies as a "plaintiff" for attachment purposes?
Anyone who files a complaint or cross-complaint, per Section 481.180 — including a defendant asserting its own money claim by cross-complaint.
Does the "person" filing the complaint have to be a natural person?
No. Section 481.170 defines person broadly to include corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and public entities, any of which can be a plaintiff under Section 481.180.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1516.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: plaintiff definition california attachment law