— Also termed cross-action; cross-suit. Cf. COUN-TERCLAIM. [Cases: Federal Civil Procedure 786; Pleading 147, 148, 149; Set-off and Counterclaim 10.] — cross-claim, vb. — cross-claimant, n.
“The courts have not always distinguished clearly between a cross-claim and a counterclaim, and have used one name where the other is proper under the rules, perhaps because in some states, and in the old equity practice, the term cross-complaint or cross-bill is used for what the rules regard as a counterclaim. Under Rule 13 a counterclaim is a claim against an opposing party, while a cross-claim is against a co-party. Further there is not the same freedom in asserting cross-claims that the rules provide for counterclaims. An unrelated claim against an opposing party may be asserted as a permissive counterclaim, but only claims related to the subject matter of the original action, or property involved therein, are appropriate as cross-claims.” Charles Alan Wright, The Law of Federal Courts § 80, at 574 (5th ed. 1994).
