What is a third-party complaint?

• A. A complaint filed against a third party by a defendant or plaintiff alleging that the third party is liable for all or part of a claim or counterclaim in dispute between the original parties
• B. A filing for bankruptcy
• C. A motion to strike evidence
• D. A request for modification of a custody order

Answer: (A)

A third-party complaint is a pleading used in civil litigation to bring in a nonparty who might be liable to the plaintiff or to the current defendant for all or part of the claim in dispute between the original parties. It’s a mechanism (often called impleading) that lets the defendant seek contribution or indemnity from someone else who may be responsible, and it brings that third party into the same lawsuit.

For example, in a car crash case, the defendant may file a third-party complaint against a mechanic who contributed to the accident, arguing that the mechanic is liable to the defendant for all or part of the plaintiff’s claim. The original plaintiff’s claim remains, but the defendant asks the court to determine the third party’s liability and possibly shift some or all of the damages.

Other options describe different legal actions (bankruptcy filing, motion to strike evidence, or modification of a custody order) and are not about bringing in an additional party to a civil dispute.