These parties to the lawsuit -- plaintiff, defendant, defense -- are not capped in general context in the transcript.
...spoke with plaintiff on the phone...
...sent to the defense...
...saw the defendant at the scene...
These parties to the lawsuit -- city, county, state, government -- are capped in general context in the transcript.
...accused the City of not maintaining the sidewalk in a usable condition...
...done on behalf of the State...
...the Government will prove...
Happy punctuating!
Margie