What does Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14 allow a defending party to do?

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14 specifically allows a defending party to bring in another party who may share liability for a claim against them. This is known as "impleader." The defending party might think that a third party (like a co-defendant or a party not initially involved in the suit) is partially or fully responsible for the damages or claims alleged by the plaintiff. By impleading this additional party, the defending party can ensure that all potentially liable parties are included in the litigation, which promotes judicial efficiency and fairness in resolving the dispute.

The focus of this rule is on the relationship between the original defendant and the third party, enhancing the ability to resolve all liability issues in a single lawsuit. This also allows for clear determination of the liability share among the parties involved, avoiding multiple lawsuits related to the same incident.

The other options do not align with the purpose of Rule 14. For instance, bringing a new claim against the plaintiff relates more to counterclaims rather than the addition of parties under Rule 14. Dismissing a defense or accessing confidential records would fall outside the scope of what Rule 14 enables. Therefore, joining another party who may share liability is the clear and accurate application of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 14.