In a third-party impleader, within how many days must the third-party defendant serve its answer after the third-party complaint is filed?

In a third-party impleader, within how many days must the third-party defendant serve its answer after the third-party complaint is filed?

• A. 20 days
• B. 30 days
• C. 60 days
• D. 90 days

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that impleading a third party puts the third-party defendant in the same pleading posture as any other defendant facing a complaint. Once the third-party complaint (along with the summons) is served on the third-party defendant, the defendant must respond within the ordinary deadline in that jurisdiction. Here, that deadline is 30 days. So the third-party defendant must serve its answer within 30 days after service of the third-party complaint. If service is by mail, the deadline might be extended by the applicable service rules, but the default window to answer remains 30 days.

The key idea is that impleading a third party puts the third-party defendant in the same pleading posture as any other defendant facing a complaint. Once the third-party complaint (along with the summons) is served on the third-party defendant, the defendant must respond within the ordinary deadline in that jurisdiction. Here, that deadline is 30 days. So the third-party defendant must serve its answer within 30 days after service of the third-party complaint. If service is by mail, the deadline might be extended by the applicable service rules, but the default window to answer remains 30 days.