La Litis Contestatio

In this case, La Litis Contestatio is a Latin legal term used to describe the beginning of a legal action. It is the formal presentation of a claim in a court of law, usually by one party against another. In the case of a civil lawsuit, it can include the formal filing of a Complaint to the court; in a criminal case, it would involve filing an accusation or indictment. It is a key part of the litigation process and is often the first step taken by a party to begin the litigation process.