Final answer:
The procedure of bringing third-party defendants into a lawsuit is true and is often followed when the third party may be liable to the defendant. This is called impleader and helps efficiently resolve disputes and assign liability correctly in one legal proceeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement in the question is true. In a lawsuit, the procedure of bringing in third-party defendants is indeed often used when a third party may have liability to the defendant. This scenario usually occurs if the defendant believes someone else is partially or fully responsible for the plaintiff's allegations. This is known as impleader and is part of the civil litigation process designed to determine responsibility and liability among parties involved.
In an adversarial judicial system like the United States, once the defendant determines that another party might also be liable, the defendant can bring that third party into the lawsuit. The purpose of this is efficient resolution of all related disputes in one legal proceeding, rather than having multiple suits for the same underlying issue. It also ensures that any parties who may be compelled to compensate or indemnify the defendant can be held accountable in the same lawsuit.
This procedural step is particularly important in complex litigation where multiple parties may be liable, such as product liability cases or construction disputes. It's a key feature of our system to provide fairness and comprehensive solutions in civil litigation.