A cross-claim runs sideways rather than back-and-forth: it is asserted by one party against a co-party — typically one defendant against another defendant, though a plaintiff can cross-claim against a co-plaintiff — rather than against the party on the opposing side of the "v." To be proper, a cross-claim generally must arise out of the same transaction or occurrence as the original action or a counterclaim already in the case.

Cross-claims are common in multi-defendant cases involving shared responsibility — a products case where a manufacturer and a distributor point at each other, or an accident case where co-defendants each argue the other was more at fault. They frequently carry indemnification or contribution theories: "if I'm liable to the plaintiff, my co-defendant should reimburse me."

Juricratic keeps cross-claims tied to the co-party relationship they depend on rather than treating them as a second freestanding lawsuit, so a simulated matter can show how liability allocated between co-defendants shifts as the evidentiary dials on the underlying claim move — which is exactly where cross-claims tend to live or die.

Defense counsel representing one of several co-defendants use cross-claims to shift or share exposure toward a co-defendant who is more culpable, often paired with indemnification or contribution theories. Because cross-claims can pit co-defendants against each other, they materially affect whether those defendants can cooperate on a joint defense or must litigate against one another as well as the plaintiff.