: to sue (someone) in return : to bring a counterclaim against someone They were dissuaded from suing one another because they knew their target likely had patents that covered similar territory and they could be countersued quickly—the legal equivalent of mutually assured destruction.—
What does counterclaim mean in your own words?
: an opposing claim especially : a claim brought by a defendant against a plaintiff in a legal action.
What are examples of counterclaims?
Examples of counterclaims include:
- After a bank has sued a customer for an unpaid debt, the customer counterclaims (sues back) against the bank for fraud in procuring the debt. The court will sort out the different claims in one lawsuit (unless the claims are severed).
- Two cars collide.
