Third-Party Practice

Rule 14. Third-Party Practice (a) When Defendant May Bring in Third Party. Rule 14-1 (1) Timing of the Summons and Complaint. A defending party may, as a third-party plaintiff, serve a summons and complaint on a nonparty who is or may be liable to it for all or part of the claim against it. But the third-party plaintiff must obtain, by motion, the court’s leave if it files the third-party complaint more than 14 days after serving its original answer. (2) Third-Party Defendant’s Claims and Defenses. The person served with the summons and third-party complaint – the “third-party defendant”: (A) will assert any defense against the third-party plaintiff's claim under Rule 12; (B) will assert any counterclaim against the third-party plaintiff under Rule 13(a), and may assert any crossclaim against another third party defendant under Rule 13(f); (C) may assert against the plaintiff any defense that the third-party plaintiff has to the plaintiff's claim; and (D) may also assert any claim against the plaintiff, if (1) the claim involves the imported merchandise that is the subject matter of the civil action, or (2) the claim is to recover on a bond or customs duties relating to such merchandise. (3) Plaintiff’s Claims Against a Third-Party Defendant. The plaintiff may assert against the third-party defendant any claim if (1) the claim involves the imported merchandise that is the subject matter of the civil action, or (2) the claim Rule 14-2 is to recover on a bond or customs duties relating to such merchandise. The third-party defendant must then assert any defenses under Rule 12 and any counterclaim under Rule 13(a), and may assert any crossclaim under Rule 13(f). (4) Motion to Strike, Sever, or Try Separately. Any party may move to strike the third-party claim, to sever it, or to try it separately. (5) Third-Party Defendant’s Claim Against a Nonparty. A third-party defendant may proceed under this rule against a nonparty who is or may be liable to the third-party defendant for all or part of any claim against it. (b) When a Plaintiff May Bring in a Third Party. When a claim is asserted against a plaintiff, the plaintiff may bring in a third party if this rule would allow a defendant to do so. (As amended July 28, 1988, eff. Nov. 1, 1988; Nov. 25, 2008, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Dec. 7, 2010, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.)