Rule 14. Third-party practice

(a) When defendant may bring in third party. -- At any time after commencement of the action a defending party, as a third-party plaintiff, may cause a summons and complaint to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the third-party plaintiff for all or part of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff. A third-party action may be commenced by a defending party without leave of court no later than five (5) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, prior to the time and date of trial by causing a summons and complaint to be served upon a third party defendant. Thereafter, a third-party action may be filed only with leave of court. If during the course of the trial it should become evident that a party has a claim against a third party of which the party was not aware prior to the commencement of the trial or other exceptional circumstances exist, the Court may, in its discretion, grant an adjournment of the proceedings so as to enable said party to file properly the third-party claim.

(b) When plaintiff may bring in third party. -- When a counterclaim or setoff is asserted against a plaintiff, the plaintiff may cause a third party to be brought in under the circumstances which under this Rule would entitle a defendant to do so.