Service of the Complaint and Summons must then be made upon defendant(s). This is the responsibility of the filing party, not the Court.The essay gives you an opportunity to show how effectively you can develop and express your ideas in writing. Common pretrial pleadings include: Complaint (or petition or bill). I. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. Rule. 1. The meaning of PLEAD is to argue a case or cause in a court of law. How to use plead in a sentence. Discover the purpose of pleading during the trial process, as well as what is included in a pleading. The correct way is to SAY plead NOT GUILTY. 'pleading' as a noun means an attorney petitioning the court on behalf of his client, NOT GUILTY.