WorldAugust 23, 2026

counterclaims

KOUN-ter-klaymz

Definition

Legal claims made by a defendant against a plaintiff in the same lawsuit, typically in response to the original charges brought against them.

Etymology

The word combines the prefix 'counter-', from the Old French 'contre' meaning 'against,' and 'claim,' derived from the Latin 'clamare' meaning 'to cry out' or 'to call.' It emerged in English law to describe a secondary plea that asserts a right or demand in opposition to the original claim.

In the news

Jason Sanchez filed counterclaims against Eddy County, arguing that the county's lawsuit was a form of retaliatory litigation intended to punish him for his requests for public information.

Eddy County's Lawsuit Against Records Requester Emblematic of Broader Assault on Transparency Law; Government Workers Cite Mounting Costs and Workload

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2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News

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