Terms Used In Missouri Laws 509.060

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

The plaintiff in his petition or in a reply setting forth a counterclaim and the defendant in an answer setting forth a counterclaim may join either as independent or as alternate claims as many claims either legal or equitable or both as he may have against an opposing party. There may be a like joinder of claims where there are multiple parties if the requirements of sections 507.030, 507.040 and 507.060 are satisfied. There may be a like joinder of cross-claims or third-party claims if the requirements of section 509.460 and section 507.080, respectively, are satisfied.