what is pleading?
<answer> A pleading is the name given to the formal court documents parties file with the court before a case, outlining their claim or their defence. <context> A pleading is the name given to the formal court documents parties file with the court before a case, outlining their claim or their defence. The purpose of the pleadings is to make it clear to the court and the other parties what is alleged to have taken place to give rise to the claim and whether there are facts upon which a defence can be made out.