Rule 14. Third-party practice

(a) When respondent may bring in third party. When permitted by law, at any time after commencement of the action a responding party, as a third-party petitioner, may cause a summons and petition to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the third-party petitioner for all or part of the petitioner's claim. The third-party petitioner need not obtain leave to make the service if the third-party petition is filed not later than 10 days after service of the original answer. Otherwise the third-party petitioner must obtain leave on motion upon notice to all parties to the action. The person served with the summons and third-party petition, hereinafter called the third-party respondent, shall make defenses to the third-party petitioner's claim as provided in Rule 12 and counterclaims against the third-party petitioner and cross-claims against other third-party respondents as provided in Rule 13. The third-party respondent may assert against the petitioner any defenses which the third-party petitioner has to the petitioner's claim. The third-party respondent may also assert any claim against the petitioner arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the petitioner's claim against the third-party petitioner. The petitioner may assert any claim against the third-party respondent arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the petitioner's claim against the third-party respondent, and the third-party respondent thereupon shall assert defenses as provided in Rule 12 and counterclaims and crossclaims as provided in Rule 13. Any party may move to strike the third-party claim, or for its severance or separate trial. A third-party respondent may proceed under this Rule against any person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to that party for all or part of the claim made in the action against the thirdparty respondent.

(b) When petitioner may bring in third party. When permitted by law, when a counterclaim is asserted against a petitioner, the petitioner may cause a third party to be brought in under the circumstances which under this Rule would entitle a respondent to do so.