Impleader (Rule 14) allows a defending party to bring a nonparty into the action as a third-party defendant.

Impleader (Rule 14) allows a defending party to bring a nonparty into the action as a third-party defendant.

• A. A defendant may bring a nonparty into the action as a third-party defendant.
• B. A plaintiff may bring a nonparty into the action.
• C. The case is automatically dismissed.
• D. The court must transfer to state court.

Answer: (A)

Impleader lets a defending party bring in a nonparty who may be liable to the defendant for all or part of the plaintiff’s claim. The party who initiates this is the defendant, and the nonparty brought in becomes the third-party defendant. This procedure is used so the defendant can shift responsibility to someone else—typically for indemnity or contribution—if the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant turns out to have merit. That’s why the correct description is that a defendant may bring a nonparty into the action as a third-party defendant. A plaintiff cannot implead under this rule, the case isn’t automatically dismissed by invoking impleader, and there’s no automatic transfer to state court just because impleader is involved.

Impleader lets a defending party bring in a nonparty who may be liable to the defendant for all or part of the plaintiff’s claim. The party who initiates this is the defendant, and the nonparty brought in becomes the third-party defendant. This procedure is used so the defendant can shift responsibility to someone else—typically for indemnity or contribution—if the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant turns out to have merit.

That’s why the correct description is that a defendant may bring a nonparty into the action as a third-party defendant. A plaintiff cannot implead under this rule, the case isn’t automatically dismissed by invoking impleader, and there’s no automatic transfer to state court just because impleader is involved.