Legal Definitions - cross-action

Definition: A cross-action is a legal term that refers to two different things:

1. an action taken by one party against another party in response to the original action taken by the other party
2. a cross-claim made by one defendant against another defendant in a lawsuit

For example, if someone sues you for damages in a car accident, you might file a cross-action against them for your own damages. Or, if two defendants are sued in a lawsuit, one defendant might file a cross-claim against the other defendant for their share of the damages.

These examples illustrate the definition of a cross-action because they both involve a legal action taken in response to another legal action. In the first example, the cross-action is a response to being sued, and in the second example, the cross-action is a response to being named as a defendant in a lawsuit.