What is a counterclaim in civil law?

A counterclaim in civil law is a legal claim by a defendant against a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit. It is typically used to respond to the initial claims made by the plaintiff. When a counterclaim is raised, it shifts the burden of proof onto the plaintiff to prove that their claim is valid and that the defendant is not due the compensation that the counterclaim requests. In Maryland, for a counterclaim to be valid, it must be asserted in a timely manner. This means that the defendant must submit their counterclaim within the time period set by the court. If the counterclaim is not asserted in a timely manner, it may not be considered by the court. Furthermore, the counterclaim must be related to the initial claim by the plaintiff, as the court will not allow counterclaims that are not related to the original claim. Counterclaims are an important part of the civil law process as they allow defendants to respond to initial claims by a plaintiff. This allows them to present their side of the story to the court, which helps ensure a fair and just outcome for all parties involved in the lawsuit.

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