Rule 14 Third-party Practice
III. Pleadings and Motions
Rule Text
(a) When Defendant May Bring in Third Party. At any time after commencement of the action a defendant as a third-party plaintiff may cause to be served a summons, complaint, and notice regarding Electronic Service upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to such third-party plaintiff for all or part of the plaintiff’s claim against the third-party plaintiff. The person so served, hereinafter called the third-party defendant, shall make any defenses to the third-party plaintiff’s claim as provided in Rule 12 and any counterclaims against the third-party plaintiff and cross-claims against other third-party defendants as provided in Rule 13. 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 within the subject-matter jurisdiction of the court 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 within the subject-matter jurisdiction of the court 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 plaintiff’s failure to do so shall have the effect of the failure to state a claim in a pleading under