What is a cross-complaint?

A cross-complaint is a legal action in which a defendant in a civil lawsuit files a complaint against the plaintiff. In other words, the defendant becomes the plaintiff in the new lawsuit and the plaintiff becomes the defendant. The cross-complaint is used to assert a counterclaim, which is a way for the defendant to bring a legal claim against the plaintiff. In Florida, a defendant has the right to file a cross-complaint after the initial complaint is served. If the defendant does not file a cross-complaint in a timely manner, the court may dismiss the case. The defendant must properly serve the plaintiff with the cross-complaint in order for it to be valid and the plaintiff then has the opportunity to respond to the new lawsuit. A cross-complaint allows the defendant to raise additional claims or defenses that they may not have been able to raise in the initial complaint. It also allows the defendant to seek additional forms of relief such as monetary damages. A successful cross-complaint may result in a court entering a judgment in favor of the defendant. In most cases, a cross-complaint is optional and can be used at the discretion of the defendant. However, it can be a useful tool for defendants who want to seek redress from a plaintiff who has filed a lawsuit against them.

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