In NC civil procedure, what is a crossclaim?

• A. A claim by a party against a co-party arising from the same transaction or occurrence.
• B. A claim by a party against a non-party.
• C. A claim by a party against the court.
• D. A claim by a party against a government agency.

Answer: (A)

A crossclaim is a claim by one party against a co-party arising from the same transaction or occurrence. In North Carolina, this type of claim is allowed under Rule 13 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, letting a party sue another party in the same lawsuit when the dispute comes from the same facts that gave rise to the plaintiff’s claim. This keeps related issues in one action and helps the court resolve all tied disputes together. For example, in a case with multiple defendants arising from the same accident, one defendant can bring a crossclaim against a co-defendant alleging that the co-defendant contributed to the harm. A crossclaim must be against someone who is already a party to the action, not a non-party, and it isn’t aimed at the court or a government agency. Some crossclaims are compulsory if they arise from the same transaction or occurrence, meaning they should be pleaded within the same action.