A petition is made to the court by a petitioner against a respondent, versus a complaint, which is filed by a plaintiff against a defendant. A petition asks the court to provide a court order, while a complaint is filed to seek damages or to get the defendant to start or stop doing something.
Nursing home neglect is a type of elder abuse committed against older adults in nursing homes. It involves the substandard care of a resident, or a breach of duty that harms a resident. A party who brings a complaint against a nursing home will want to bring out all evidence of the losses or suffering that resulted from the nursing home’s conduct.