CROSSCLAIM Meaning and
Definition
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A crossclaim refers to a legal action made by one defendant in a lawsuit against another defendant who is also being sued in the same case. In a crossclaim, one defendant asserts a legal claim against a co-defendant, usually seeking contribution or indemnity towards any potential liability that might arise from the original lawsuit. This occurs when a defendant believes that if they are held responsible for any damages or liability in the case, the co-defendant should also bear a portion of the blame due to their involvement or shared responsibility.
Crossclaims typically arise when multiple parties are named as defendants in a lawsuit and each party may have differing levels of fault or contribution towards the alleged wrongful action. By filing a crossclaim, a defendant seeks to shift or share the responsibility for damages, costs, or any potential legal judgments with another defendant.
Crossclaims are aimed at providing a more efficient and complete resolution to the underlying legal dispute by ensuring that all parties who may be liable are joined in the case. Through this legal mechanism, a defendant can bring their concerns or claims against a co-defendant within the same action, avoiding the need for separate, subsequent lawsuits and potential duplication of evidence or resources.
It is important to note that while crossclaims allow one co-defendant to sue another co-defendant, the original plaintiff's claim is not affected or altered. Each defendant can still provide a defense against the plaintiff's claims while simultaneously addressing the crossclaim filed against them by their co-defendants.
Common Misspellings for CROSSCLAIM
- xrossclaim
- vrossclaim
- frossclaim
- drossclaim
- ceossclaim
- cdossclaim
- cfossclaim
- ctossclaim
- c5ossclaim
- c4ossclaim
- crissclaim
- crkssclaim
- crlssclaim
- crpssclaim
- cr0ssclaim
- cr9ssclaim
- croasclaim
- crozsclaim
- croxsclaim
- crodsclaim
Etymology of CROSSCLAIM
The word "crossclaim" originated from the combination of two elements: "cross" and "claim".
The term "claim" comes from the Old French word "claime", meaning "demand", "ask for", or "assert a right". It can be traced back to the Latin word "clamare", meaning "to cry out" or "to shout".
The word "cross" comes from the Old English word "cros", which is derived from the Old Irish word "crux" and the Latin word "crux". Both these words mean "cross" or "crucifix".
In the legal context, a "crossclaim" refers to a claim made by a defendant against a co-defendant or a plaintiff against a co-plaintiff in the same litigation. The "cross" element signifies the opposing nature of the claim, as it involves parties on opposite sides of the case making claims against each other.
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