The initial pleading of a plaintiff in a civil action that identifies the court's jurisdiction, the alleged facts that entitle the plaintiff to relief, and the relief sought. See also ad damnum clause, bill, petition,and prayer. amended complaint.A complaint that substitutes for the original complaint and adds to, corrects, revises, or subtracts from the alleged facts contained in the original complaint. criminal complaint. A document, signed and sworn to by a victim or witness to a crime or ...