Rule 2-332 - Third-Party Practice(a) Defendant's Claim Against Third Party. A defendant, as a third-party plaintiff, may cause a summons and complaint, together with a copy of all pleadings, scheduling notices, court orders, and other papers previously filed in the action, to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the defendant for all or part of a plaintiff's claim against the defendant. A person so served becomes a third-party defendant.(b) Response by Third Party. A third-party defendant shall assert defenses to the third-party plaintiff's claim as provided by Rules 2-322 and 2-323 and may assert counterclaims against the third-party plaintiff and cross-claims against other third-party defendants as provided by Rule 2-331. The third-party defendant may assert against the plaintiff any defenses that the third-party plaintiff has to the plaintiff's claim. The third-party defendant may also assert any claim against the plaintiff arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff.(c) Plaintiff's Claim Against Third Party. The plaintiff shall assert any claim against the third-party defendant arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff, and the third-party defendant thereupon shall assert defenses as provided by Rules 2-322 and 2-323 and may assert counterclaims and cross-claims as provided by Rule 2-331. If the plaintiff fails to assert any such claim against the third-party defendant, the plaintiff may not thereafter assert that claim in a separate action instituted after the third-party defendant has been impleaded. This section does not apply when a third-party claim has been stricken pursuant to section (e) of this Rule.(d) Additional Parties. A third-party defendant may proceed under this Rule against any person who is or may be liable to the third-party defendant for all or part of the claim made in the pending action. When a counterclaim is asserted against a plaintiff, the plaintiff may cause a third party to be brought in under circumstances that would entitle a defendant to do so under this Rule.(e) Time for Filing. If a party files a third-party claim more than 30 days after the time for filing that party's answer, any other party may file, within 15 days of service of the third-party claim, a motion to strike it or to sever it for separate trial. When such a motion is filed, the time for responding to the third-party claim is extended without special order to 15 days after entry of the court's order on the motion. The court shall grant the motion unless there is a showing that the late filing of the third-party claim does not prejudice other parties to the action.Md. R. Civ. P. Cir. Ct. 2-332
This Rule is derived as follows:
Section (a) is derived from former Rule 315 a.
Section (b) is derived from former Rule 315 c 1, c 2 and d 1.
Section (c) is derived from former Rule 315 d.
Section (d) is derived from former Rule 315 f 1 and 2.
Section (e) is derived from former Rule 315 b.
Adopted April 6, 1984, eff. 7/1/1984. Amended June 21, 1995, eff. 9/1/1995; 11/8/2005, eff. 1/1/2006; 6/7/2011, eff. 7/1/2011.HISTORICAL NOTES
2005 Orders
The November 8, 2005, order inserted the cross reference following section (e).
2011 Orders
The June 7, 2011, order substituted "a person not a party for "a person not previously a party in section (a).
For third-party practice in health care malpractice cases, see Code, Courts Article, § 3-2A-04.