countersued
Sued in return
Countersued is the past tense of countersue, meaning to file a lawsuit against someone who has already sued you.
When a defendant responds to being taken to court by bringing their own legal claims against the plaintiff, they have countersued.
After the company sued him for breach of contract, he countersued for unpaid wages.
The tactic shifts a defendant from purely defensive posture to an offensive one.
Civil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- complaintExpression of discontent
- summonsFormal court notification
allegation · pleadings · docket · deposition · discovery · interrogatories · subpoena · testimony
Defendant's excuse admitting act
- demurrerPlea questioning claim's adequacy
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- answerSolution to query
- denialRefusal to accept reality
estoppel · justification · exculpation · disproof · vindication · mitigation · nonliability
Resolved dispute or colony
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- redressCompensation for injury
reimbursement · reparation · recovery · recoupment · damages · award · remuneration · refund
Offensive response to aggression
- countermoveResponding strategic action
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
- counteractionNeutralizing opposing effort
- reprisalPunitive action in return
retort · reciprocate · backlash · tit-for-tat · fightback · response · retaliation
plaintiff
Civil case initiator
summons · allegation · pleadings · docket · deposition · discovery · interrogatories · subpoena · testimony · evidence
affirmative defense
Defendant's excuse admitting act
- demurrerPlea questioning claim's adequacy
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- answerSolution to query
denial · estoppel · justification · exculpation · disproof · vindication · mitigation · nonliability
settlement
Resolved dispute or colony
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
redress · reimbursement · reparation · recovery · recoupment · damages · award · remuneration · refund
counterattack
Offensive response to aggression
- countermoveResponding strategic action
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
- counteractionNeutralizing opposing effort
reprisal · retort · reciprocate · backlash · tit-for-tat · fightback · response · retaliation
countersuedsettled
No longer in question
capitulated · conceded · defended · surrendered · acquiesced