text: is the plantiff the same thing as the prosecutor?   no. the district is a public servant (in some states elected), who can bring criminal charges against an accused. a plaintiff figures in a civil lawsuit. (not a criminal trial). the plaintiff is directly involved in the civil lawsuitl the plaintiff is the complainant who files a civil lawsuit against the other party called the defendant. civil trials usually result in the court awarding damages against the defendant if the plaintiff successfully proves his/her case. the award is usually money or a court injunction of some sort.