What are counterclaims?

Counterclaims are legal claims made by a defendant in response to a claim filed by the plaintiff. Essentially, when a defendant believes they have their own grounds for a lawsuit against the plaintiff, they can present this as a counterclaim within the same legal proceeding. By doing so, the defendant not only addresses the initial claim made against them but also asserts their own rights and seeks affirmative relief, which could involve monetary compensation or injunctive relief.

This practice helps streamline legal proceedings by allowing both parties to resolve their disputes in a single case rather than requiring separate lawsuits. In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe counterclaims; they focus on aspects like claims made only by the plaintiff or other procedural components that do not define the counterclaim itself.