Rule 6: Kinds of Pleadings - May also be filed against an original cross-
claimant
Pleadings
- Are the written statements of the respective
claims and defenses of the parties
submitted to the court for appropriate
judgement.
Kinds of pleadings
- Allowed
o Claims of a party are asserted in a
complaint, counterclaim, cross-
claim, third, fourth party complaint
or complaint in intervention
o Defenses of a party are alleged in
the answer to the pleading asserting
a claim against him or her
o Answer may be responded to by a
reply only if the defending party
attaches an actionable document to
the answer
Complaint
- Pleading alleging the plaintiff’s or claiming a
party’s cause or causes of action
- Names and residences of the plaintiff and
defendant must be stated in the complaint
Answer
- A pleading in which the defending party sets
forth his defenses
Counterclaim
- Is any claim which a defending party may
have against an opposing party
Cross claim
- Is any claim by one party against a co-party
arising out of the transaction or occurrence
that is the subject matter either of the
original action or of a counterclaim therein.
Such cross-claims may cover all or part of
the original claim
Counter-claims
- May be asserted against an original counter-
claimant
Counter-cross-claims
Reply
- All new matters alleged in the answer are
deemed controverted. If the plaintiff wishes
to interpose any claims arising out of the
new matters so alleged, such claims shall be
set forth in an amended or supplemental
complaint. However, the plaintiff may file a
reply only if the defending party attaches an
actionable document to his or her answer
- A reply is a pleading, the officer or function
of which is to deny, or allege facts in denial
or avoidance of new matters alleged in or
relating to said actionable document
Third, fourth party complaint
- Is a claim that a defending party may, with
leave of court, file against a person not a
party to the action called the third or fourth
party defendant for contribution, indemnity,
subrogation or any other relief in respect of
his or her opponents claim
Summary on kinds of pleadings
- Complaint
o Original
o In-intervention
- Counterclaim
- Cross claim
- 3rd 4th party complaint
o Answer
 To complaint
 To counter claim
 To cross claim
 To 3rd 4th party complaint
 In-intervention
- Reply
- Rejoinder
- Counter
o Counterclaim
o Cross claim
Pleadings filed by party
- Plaintiff
o Complaint
o Reply
 o Rejoinder
o Counter-claim against
 Defendant
 3rd 4th party defendant
o Answer to permissive counterclaim
- Defendant/co-defendant
o Against the plaintiff
 Answer
 Reply
 Rejoinder
 Counterclaim
o Against co-defendant
 Cross-claim
 Counter-cross claim
 Answer
 Reply
 Rejoinder
o Against 3rd party
 3rd party complaint
 Answer
 Reply
 Counter-counter claim
rd
- 3 party defendant
o Answer to 3rd party complaint
o Counter claims against
 3rd party plaintiff or
 Original plaintiff
o Rejoinder
o 4th party complaint
- Intervenor
o Complaint-in-intervention
o Answer-in-intervention