Svarsviðurlaga

Svarsviðurlaga refers to a legal concept primarily found in Icelandic law. It translates roughly to "counter-claims" or "reconventional claims" in English. This term describes a situation where a defendant in a lawsuit not only defends themselves against the plaintiff's claims but also initiates their own claim against the plaintiff within the same legal proceedings. Essentially, the defendant becomes a plaintiff in their own right for a separate, albeit related, cause of action.

This procedural mechanism allows for the efficient resolution of disputes by consolidating all claims between the same parties into a single court case. For a counter-claim to be permissible, it generally must be related to the subject matter of the original claim, although specific rules can vary. The purpose is to avoid multiplicity of lawsuits and to ensure that all relevant issues between the parties are addressed at once.

The process typically involves the defendant formally presenting their counter-claim to the court, often in their defense filings. The plaintiff then has the opportunity to respond to this counter-claim, and the court will consider both the original claim and the counter-claim during the trial. The outcome can result in the plaintiff's claim being dismissed, the defendant's counter-claim being successful, or both parties being found liable or not liable to varying degrees. This legal tool promotes judicial economy and a more comprehensive settlement of disputes.