What is a characteristic of compulsory counterclaims?

A characteristic of compulsory counterclaims is that they must be raised in the initial pleadings. This means that a defendant is required to assert any counterclaims that they have against the plaintiff at the outset of the litigation, specifically in their responsive pleading to the plaintiff's complaint. Failing to do so may result in the waiver of that counterclaim, which means that it cannot be raised in a later proceeding.

Compulsory counterclaims relate directly to the subject matter of the original claim and are designed to promote judicial efficiency by resolving all related disputes in a single lawsuit. This characteristic helps prevent piecemeal litigation, where multiple claims related to the same issue would need to be decided in separate cases.

The other options do not accurately describe compulsory counterclaims. They are not optional for the defendant; if a claim is compulsory, the defendant must raise it. While certain claims can be introduced at various points in litigation, compulsory counterclaims specifically must be included in the initial response to the pleadings. Furthermore, compulsory counterclaims are relevant in both federal and state courts, not only in federal courts. This requirement exists across jurisdictions to streamline legal processes.