countersues
Files retaliatory lawsuit
Countersues is the third-person singular present tense of countersue, meaning to file a lawsuit against someone who has already sued you.
When a defendant countersues, they become both defendant and plaintiff in the same legal matter.
After the contractor sued for unpaid work, the homeowner countersued for damages caused by shoddy construction.
The strategy is common in business disputes, divorce proceedings, and personal injury cases.
Civil court proceeding
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- complaintExpression of discontent
- summonsFormal court notification
jurisdiction · attorney · lawyer · legal counsel · litigant · trial · hearing · courtroom
Offensive response to aggression
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- tit-for-tatEquivalent retaliation strategy
countermove · counteraction · backlash · revenge · vengeance · comeuppance · counterpunch · reaction
Formal response disputing claims
- justificationReason proving rightness
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
mitigation · cross-examination · objection · demurrer · plea · alibi · innocence · vindication
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
summons · jurisdiction · attorney · lawyer · legal counsel · litigant · trial · hearing · courtroom · judge
counterattack
Offensive response to aggression
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
tit-for-tat · countermove · counteraction · backlash · revenge · vengeance · comeuppance · counterpunch · reaction · counteroffensive
rebuttal
Formal response disputing claims
- justificationReason proving rightness
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- acquittalFormal clearing of charges
self-defense · mitigation · cross-examination · objection · demurrer · plea · alibi · innocence · vindication · dismissal
countersuessettles
Comes to rest
concedes · withdraws · capitulates · makes peace · negotiates
countersuessettles
Comes to rest
concedes · capitulates · defaults · submits · acquiesces