By defendants. A defendant to an action exposed to similar liability or litigation may

obtain interpleader by counterclaim or cross-petition. Any claimant not already before the court may be brought in to maintain or relinquish that claim to the subject of the action, and on default after due service, the court may decree such claim barred. [Report 1943; October 31, 1997, effective January 24, 1998; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002] liability for, or