Civ pro question (rule 20)
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:34 pm
I was trying to figure out in a case where a P joins multiple ds under rule 20a2, can d1 then cross claim against d2?
My confusion is twofold:
1. Is rule 20a only available to plaintiffs
2. Is a cross claim ONLY available for original defendants and would defendants joined under rule 20 count as original defendants (in everything I read a cross claim is JUST against co-parties no mention of original and it's permissive)
I currently think that rule 20 is a tool that the p can use at the outset to determine who the parties are going to be and a defendant would then be able to cross claim.
My confusion is twofold:
1. Is rule 20a only available to plaintiffs
2. Is a cross claim ONLY available for original defendants and would defendants joined under rule 20 count as original defendants (in everything I read a cross claim is JUST against co-parties no mention of original and it's permissive)
I currently think that rule 20 is a tool that the p can use at the outset to determine who the parties are going to be and a defendant would then be able to cross claim.