Group III: Pleadings and Motions · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 14 lets a defending party pull a nonparty into the case when that nonparty may owe reimbursement or contribution for the plaintiff's claim.
(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, serve a summons and complaint on a nonparty 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 if it files the third-party complaint more than 14 days after serving its original answer.
(2)Third-Party Defendant’s Claims and Defenses. — The person served with the summons and third-party complaint — 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 thirdparty plaintiff under Rule 13(b) or any crossclaim against another thirdparty defendant under Rule 13(g);
(C)may assert against the plaintiff any defense that the third-party plaintiff has to the plaintiff’s claim; and
(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)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.
(5)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.
Amendment History
Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
A defending party — acting as a third-party plaintiff — can serve a summons and complaint on a nonparty who is or may be liable to it for all or part of the claim against it. That is automatic within 14 days of serving the original answer; after that, it takes the court's permission. Once served, the third-party defendant must raise Rule 12 defenses and any Rule 13(a) counterclaim against the third-party plaintiff, may raise permissive counterclaims or crossclaims against other third-party defendants, may borrow any defense the third-party plaintiff has against the original plaintiff, and may bring its own claim against the plaintiff if it arises from the same transaction or occurrence.
The plaintiff, in turn, may assert a claim directly against the third-party defendant when it arises from that same transaction or occurrence, and the third-party defendant must respond to that claim the same way it would to the original third-party complaint. Any party can move to strike the third-party claim, sever it, or have it tried separately. A third-party defendant can chain the process further by bringing in its own nonparty under this rule, and a plaintiff facing a claim of its own — for instance, on a counterclaim — can use Rule 14 the same way a defendant would.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is third-party practice under Rule 14?
It lets a defending party bring a nonparty into the lawsuit when that nonparty may owe it reimbursement, contribution, or indemnity for all or part of the claim against it.
Do I need the court's permission to file a third-party complaint?
Not if you file it within 14 days of serving your original answer. After that window, you need the court's leave to bring in a third-party defendant.
Can the plaintiff sue the third-party defendant directly?
Yes. The plaintiff may assert a claim against the third-party defendant if it arises from the same transaction or occurrence as the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff.
Can a third-party defendant bring in yet another party?
Yes. A third-party defendant may proceed under Rule 14 against a nonparty who is or may be liable to it for all or part of any claim made against it.
Does Rule 14 only work for defendants?
No. A plaintiff facing a claim against it — such as a counterclaim — may bring in a third party under this rule the same way a defendant could.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:third party complaint wyomingimpleaderbringing in a third party defendantcontribution and indemnity claimthird party plaintiff