A claim the defendant brings back against the person suing them, in the same case.
What it means
A counterclaim is a claim made by a defendant against the plaintiff within the same proceeding, rather than in a separate case. It is typically filed together with the defence and is decided at the same time. For example, a defendant sued for an unpaid invoice might counterclaim for the cost of fixing defective work. A related claim against another party is often called a cross-claim.
How it's used
The builder filed a defence and a counterclaim seeking payment for extra work she had carried out.
Recover what you are owed and resolve contract disputes without hourly billing. Our AI assistant, Rachel Z, takes your details in minutes and a
qualified Australian lawyer handles the rest — at a fixed fee, with no hourly billing.
