cross-claim
Defendant sues co-defendant
A cross-claim is a legal claim brought by one party against a co-party in the same lawsuit—typically one defendant suing another defendant, or one plaintiff against another plaintiff.
Cross-claims usually arise from the same transaction or occurrence as the original suit: The contractor filed a cross-claim against the subcontractor for faulty work.
Distinguished from counterclaims, which are directed at the opposing party.
Defendant's opposing lawsuit
- defendantParty facing charges
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- co-defendantPerson charged jointly
- third-partyExternal, uninvolved entity
indemnification · contribution · liability · complaint · pleading · joinder · codefendant · allegation
Successor assumes claim rights
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- policyholderOwner of insurance contract
- insurerEntity providing financial protection
- indemnityProtection against financial loss
reimbursement · adjuster · claimant · underwriter · deductible · premium · loss · recovery
counterclaim
Defendant's opposing lawsuit
- defendantParty facing charges
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- co-defendantPerson charged jointly
third-party · indemnification · contribution · liability · complaint · pleading · joinder · codefendant · allegation · damages
subrogation
Successor assumes claim rights
- coverageExtent of inclusion
- policyholderOwner of insurance contract
- insurerEntity providing financial protection
indemnity · reimbursement · adjuster · claimant · underwriter · deductible · premium · loss · recovery · liability coverage
- litigationpleadings, lawsuit, plaintiff, complaint, lawsuits
- legal processcourt summons, legal summons, service of process, summons, writ
- civil procedurecomplaint, complaints, answer, answers, pleadings
- court filingscomplaint, motion to dismiss, counterclaim, pleading, demurrer
- pleadingsplea, answer, complaint, demurrer, replication
- legal documentscontract, affidavit, deed, will, subpoena