impleader

An impleader is a legal process by which a party to an existing lawsuit seeks to bring a new party into that lawsuit. This new party, the impleaded party, is someone who may be liable to the original defendant for all or part of the plaintiff's claim. The impleader is typically filed by a defendant who believes that a third party is responsible for the damages the plaintiff is seeking.

The purpose of impleader is to avoid multiple lawsuits and to ensure that all relevant parties are present in a single proceeding. This allows for a more efficient and complete resolution of the dispute. For instance, if a plaintiff sues a contractor for faulty construction, the contractor might implead the subcontractor who actually performed the defective work. The contractor would argue that if they are found liable to the plaintiff, the subcontractor is liable to them for the same damages.

Rules regarding impleader vary by jurisdiction but generally require the defendant to show that the third party may be liable. The impleaded party then has the opportunity to respond to the claim, potentially defending themselves and even asserting their own claims against other parties involved. This mechanism promotes judicial economy by consolidating related claims and counterclaims into a single action.