Which term describes a claim by the defendant against the plaintiff?

Which term describes a claim by the defendant against the plaintiff?

• A. Counterclaim
• B. Cross-claim
• C. Third-party claim
• D. Caption

Answer: (A)

In civil cases, a defendant who responds to the plaintiff’s complaint can bring a claim against the plaintiff as part of the same lawsuit. This is a counterclaim. It lets the defendant seek relief from the plaintiff within the same action, usually arising from related facts or issues. A cross-claim is a claim by a defendant against another defendant in the same case; a third-party claim brings in a new party who may be liable to the defendant; and a caption is just the heading of the pleading, not a claim. So the term for a claim by the defendant against the plaintiff is counterclaim.

In civil cases, a defendant who responds to the plaintiff’s complaint can bring a claim against the plaintiff as part of the same lawsuit. This is a counterclaim. It lets the defendant seek relief from the plaintiff within the same action, usually arising from related facts or issues. A cross-claim is a claim by a defendant against another defendant in the same case; a third-party claim brings in a new party who may be liable to the defendant; and a caption is just the heading of the pleading, not a claim. So the term for a claim by the defendant against the plaintiff is counterclaim.