American terminology is slightly different, in that the term "claim" refers only to a particular count or cause of action alleged in a complaint. Similarly, "defense" refers to only one or more affirmative defenses alleged in an answer. Americans also use "claim" to describe an extrajudicial demand filed with an insurer or administrative agency. If the claim is denied, then the claimant, policyholder, or applicant files a lawsuit with the courts to seek review of that decision, and from that point forward participates in the lawsuit as a plaintiff. In other words, the terms "claimant" and "plaintiff" carry substantially different connotations of formality in American English, in that only the latter risks an award of costs in favor of an adversary in a lawsuit.
American terminology is slightly different, in that the term "claim" refers only to a particular count or cause of action alleged in a complaint. Similarly, "defense" refers to only one or more affirmative defenses alleged in an answer. Americans also use "claim" to describe an extrajudicial demand filed with an insurer or administrative agency. If the claim is denied, then the claimant, policyholder, or applicant files a lawsuit with the courts to seek review of that decision, and from that point forward participates in the lawsuit as a plaintiff. In other words, the terms "claimant" and "plaintiff" carry substantially different connotations of formality in American English, in that only the latter risks an award of costs in favor of an adversary in a lawsuit.