What is a counter claim?

• A. A reply to a defense
• B. A damages cap
• C. A claim by the defendant to offset the claimant's claim
• D. A separate claim in a different court

Answer: (C)

A counterclaim is a claim brought by the defendant against the claimant within the same civil action, arising from the same facts, and used to offset or defeat the claimant’s claim. It lets the defendant present their own cause of action and seek relief (often damages) in the same proceeding, so the court can resolve both sides together instead of requiring a separate suit. This differs from a simple set-off, which is more about deducting amount owed from the claimant’s claim rather than asserting a new, independent claim. In short, a counterclaim is the defendant’s own claim against the claimant, filed inside the ongoing case to offset what’s being claimed.