Rule 14.Third-party practice

Group III: Pleadings and Motions · Last amended March 1, 2019 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 14 lets a defending party pull a new party into the lawsuit by claiming that party owes it reimbursement for whatever it may end up owing the plaintiff.

Full Text of Rule 14

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) When a Defending Party May Bring in a Third Party.

(1) Timing of the Summons and Complaint. A defending party may, as third-party plaintiff, file a third-party complaint against a nonparty, the third-party defendant, who is or may be liable to it for all or part of the claim against it. But the third-party plaintiff must, by motion, obtain the court’s leave to file the third-party complaint if it files the third-party complaint more than 14 days after serving its original answer. A summons, the complaint, and the third-party complaint must be served on the third-party defendant, or service must be waived.

(2) Third-Party Defendant’s Claims and Defenses. After being served or waiving service, the third-party defendant:

(A) must assert any defense against the third-party plaintiff’s claim under Rule 12;

(B) must assert any counterclaim against the third-party plaintiff under Rule 13(a), and may assert any counterclaim against the third-party plaintiff under Rule 13(b) or any crossclaim against a defendant or another third-party defendant under Rule 13(g);

(D) may also assert against the plaintiff any claim arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff’s claim against the third-party plaintiff.

(3) Plaintiff’s Claims Against a Third-Party Defendant. The plaintiff may assert against the third-party defendant any claim arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff’s claim against the third-party plaintiff. The third-party defendant must then assert any defense under Rule 12 and any counterclaim under Rule 13(a), and may assert any counterclaim under Rule 13(b) or any crossclaim under Rule 13(g).

(4) Defendant’s Claims Against a Third-Party Defendant. A defendant may assert against the third-party defendant any crossclaim under Rule 13(g).

(5) Motion to Strike, Sever, or Try Separately. Any party may move to strike the third-party claim, to sever it, or to try it separately.

(6) Third-Party Defendant’s Claim Against a Nonparty. A third-party defendant may proceed under this rule against a nonparty who is or may be liable to the third-party defendant for all or part of any claim against it.

(b) When a Plaintiff May Bring in a Third Party. When a claim is asserted against a plaintiff, the plaintiff may bring in a third party if this rule would allow a defendant to do so.

End

Notes

Drafter’s Note, Amendment Effective January 1, 2005: The amendments are technical.

Advisory Committee Note — 2019 Amendment: The amendments generally conform Rule 14 to FRCP 14. The modifications to Rules 14(a)(2)(B) and 14(a)(4) permit defendants and third-party defendants to bring crossclaims against each other as “coparties” under Rule 13(g).

Amendment History

Amended eff. 9-27-71; Amended eff. 1-1-05; Amended eff. 3-1-19.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 14 covers third-party practice, sometimes called impleader. If a defendant thinks someone who isn’t already in the case should end up paying part or all of a judgment against it — an insurer, a subcontractor, a co-obligor — this rule lets the defendant bring that person or company in as a third-party defendant. Filing within 14 days of the original answer requires no permission; after that, the defendant needs the court’s leave. Once served, the third-party defendant can raise its own defenses, counterclaims, and crossclaims, and can even fight the plaintiff’s underlying claim using any defense the original defendant has.

The rule also lets the plaintiff use the same tool if a counterclaim turns the plaintiff into a defending party, and it lets a third-party defendant chain the process further by impleading someone who owes it money in turn. Courts keep control over how far this can stretch: any party can move to strike, sever, or separately try a third-party claim that would complicate or delay the main case.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rule 14 let a defendant do?

It lets a defendant bring a new party into the case — called a third-party defendant — by claiming that party owes reimbursement or contribution for some or all of what the defendant might owe the plaintiff.

Is there a deadline for filing a third-party complaint without asking the court first?

Yes. A defendant can file it as of right within 14 days after serving its original answer. After that, it needs the court’s permission.

Can the third-party defendant fight the original plaintiff’s claim too?

Yes. The third-party defendant may raise any defense the original defendant has against the plaintiff, and may bring its own claim against the plaintiff if it arises from the same transaction or occurrence.

Can a third-party defendant bring in someone else?

Yes. A third-party defendant can implead a nonparty who may owe it reimbursement, continuing the same chain of liability the rule sets up.

Can a plaintiff use Rule 14 to bring in a new party?

Yes, if a claim is asserted against the plaintiff — for example, through a counterclaim — the plaintiff may implead a third party under the same rules that apply to a defendant.

Source & verification. Rule text, official Advisory Committee Notes, and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Nevada. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: impleaderthird party complaintbringing in a third party defendantindemnity claim in a lawsuitvouching in a nonpartycontribution claim against nonparty