Legal Definitions - cross-complaint

A cross-complaint, also known as a crossclaim, is a legal action that a party brings against another party who is already involved in a lawsuit. The cross-complaint must be related to the same incident or event that the original plaintiff is suing the defendant for.

For example, if a pedestrian sues a car owner and driver for a car accident, the car owner can file a cross-complaint against the driver. This is because the car owner and driver are both involved in the same incident that the pedestrian is suing them for.

Another example is if a landlord sues a tenant for unpaid rent, the tenant can file a cross-complaint against the landlord for not fixing a leaky roof. This is because both the unpaid rent and the leaky roof are related to the same rental agreement between the landlord and tenant.

The examples illustrate how a cross-complaint is an independent legal action that a party can bring against another party who is already involved in a lawsuit. The cross-complaint must be related to the same incident or event that the original plaintiff is suing the defendant for. This allows all parties involved in the incident to have their claims heard and resolved in one lawsuit.