THIRD-PARTY PRACTICE

A. WHEN DEFENDANT MAY BRING IN THIRD PARTY. At any time after commencement of the action a defending party, as a third-party plaintiff, may cause a summons and petition to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to him for all or part of the plaintiff's claim against him or who is liable to him on a claim arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of a claim that is asserted against him. The third-party plaintiff need not obtain leave to make the service if he files the third-party petition not later than ten (10) days after he serves his original answer. Otherwise, he must obtain leave on motion upon notice to all parties to the action. The person served with the summons and third-party petition, hereinafter called the third-party defendant, shall make his defenses to the third-party plaintiff's claim as provided in Section 12 of this act and his counterclaims against the third-party plaintiff and cross-claims against other third-party defendants as provided in Section 13 of this act. The third-party defendant may assert against the plaintiff any defenses which the third-party plaintiff has to the plaintiff's claim. The third-party defendant may also assert any claim against the plaintiff arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff. The plaintiff may assert any claim against the third-party defendant arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff, and the third-party defendant thereupon shall assert his defenses as provided in Section 12 of this act and his counterclaims and cross-claims as provided in Section 13 of this act. Any party may move to strike the third-party claim, or for its severance or separate trial. A third-party defendant may proceed under this section against any person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to him for all or part of the claim made in the action against the third-party defendant.

B. WHEN PLAINTIFF MAY BRING IN THIRD PARTY. When a counterclaim is asserted against a plaintiff, he may cause a third party to be brought in under circumstances which pursuant to this section would entitle a defendant to do so.

Added by Laws 1984, c. 164, § 14, eff. Nov. 1, 1984.