What are counterclaims in the context of joinder?

Counterclaims are defined as claims made by a defendant against a plaintiff in the same action. This concept is rooted in the principles of joinder, which seeks to efficiently resolve all related disputes arising from the same set of facts or circumstances within a single legal proceeding. By allowing a defendant to assert a counterclaim, the court promotes judicial economy, preventing the need for multiple lawsuits concerning related issues.

The idea is that if the defendant has a claim against the plaintiff that arises out of the same transaction or occurrence as the original claim, it ought to be resolved in that same legal proceeding. This approach helps ensure that all aspects of a dispute are settled in one forum, reducing the potential for inconsistent judgments and conserving judicial resources.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe counterclaims. Claims a plaintiff makes against a defendant relate to the plaintiff's original action, while claims that must be resolved before other claims are typically procedural determinations rather than substantive counterclaims. Additionally, claims that cannot be related to the original action are outside the premise of counterclaims, as these claims must have a logical connection to the original dispute to be considered valid counterclaims.