Within how many days must the third-party summons and complaint be served on the third-party defendant?

• A. 60 days
• B. 90 days
• C. 120 days
• D. 180 days

Answer: (C)

When a defendant adds a third-party defendant under CPLR 1007, the third-party summons and complaint must be served within 120 days after the defendant is served with the original summons and complaint. This deadline keeps third-party liability issues timely and avoids delaying the main action. If the 120-day window passes without service, the third-party claim may be dismissed unless the court grants an extension for good cause or the parties otherwise agree.