55.03 Plaintiffs, counterclaimants, cross-claimants

Here's a plain English summary:

This rule says that anyone can ask for a default judgment, not just the person who started the lawsuit. If someone files a claim against another party (like a counterclaim, a cross-claim, or a third-party claim) and the other side doesn't respond, they can also ask the court for a default judgment. The rule treats all these situations the same way, no matter which side of the case is asking for the judgment.

There's an important limit, though. Any default judgment must follow the rules set out in Rule 54.03. That means the court can't just give someone everything they ask for automatically. The judgment has to match what was actually requested in the claim, and it can't give more relief than what the other side had fair notice of.

In short, this rule makes sure the default judgment process works the same way for everyone involved in a case, whether they're the original plaintiff or someone who filed a claim later on. It also protects people from being blindsided by a judgment that goes beyond what was originally asked for.