A cross-claim is a cause of action by one defendant against another. A cross-claim may be asserted for any cause of action at all, whether or not related to the plaintiff's claim. This statement is:

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only with permission
• D. Only if connected to plaintiff's claim

Answer: (A)

Cross-claims let one defendant sue a co-defendant in the same lawsuit, and they can be brought broadly against a coparty. The permissive aspect allows a cross-claim on essentially any theory against a co-defendant, not strictly limited to theories tied to the plaintiff’s claim. This broad allowance aims to resolve all inter-party disputes in one action, making it efficient to determine who owes what among the defendants as the case unfolds. For example, if two defendants are sued by a plaintiff for negligence, one can assert against the other a claim for indemnity, contribution, or another independent claim—as long as it involves the same overall dispute and is raised within the same case.