Legal Definitions - third-party defendant

Definition: A third-party defendant is a party who is brought into a lawsuit by the original defendant.

Example: Let's say that John is suing Jane for damages caused by a car accident. However, Jane believes that the accident was actually caused by a faulty part in her car, which was manufactured by XYZ Company. In this case, Jane can bring XYZ Company into the lawsuit as a third-party defendant.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a third-party defendant is brought into a lawsuit by the original defendant. In this case, Jane is the original defendant, and she brings XYZ Company into the lawsuit as a third-party defendant. This is because Jane believes that XYZ Company is responsible for the damages, not her.