a retaliatory claim by a defendant against a plaintiff in a lawsuit included in
the defendant's answer and intending to off-set and/or reduce the amount of the
plaintiff's original claim against the defendant. For example, Hotdog Products sues
Barbecue Bill's Eatery for $40,000 for meat delivered to Bill's but not paid for,
and Bill counterclaims that Hotdog owes him $20,000 for a load of bad chicken livers,
so Hotdog is only entitled to $20,000. In many states the counterclaim is no longer
allowed, in which case a cross-complaint, which is a separate complaint, must be
filed by the defendant, but as part of the same lawsuit. On the other hand, in federal
cases, if the defendant believes he/she/it has a legitimate counterclaim to reduce
damages it must be alleged (stated) in the answer or it is barred from being considered.
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