Legal Definitions - cross-plaintiff

Definition: A cross-plaintiff is a party in a legal case who asserts a cross-claim against another party. This means that they are making a claim against someone who has already made a claim against them.

Example: In a car accident case, the driver of one car may sue the driver of the other car for damages. If the driver of the other car believes that the first driver was also at fault, they may file a cross-claim against them as a cross-plaintiff.

Explanation: The cross-plaintiff is essentially countersuing the original plaintiff. They are claiming that the original plaintiff was also responsible for the damages and should be held accountable. This is a common tactic in legal cases where both parties believe that the other is at fault.