In a third-party impleader, after a defendant files a third-party complaint, within how many days must the defendant serve a copy on both the third-party defendant and the plaintiff?

• A. 120 days
• B. 30 days
• C. 60 days
• D. 180 days

Answer: (A)

In impleader, the party who files the third-party complaint must bring the new party and the original plaintiff into the case with proper notice, and this must happen within a fixed, practical window. The standard window is 120 days from when the third-party complaint is filed. This deadline mirrors the general service rule that keeps proceedings moving and ensures everyone who may be liable or affected has timely notice. If service on the third-party defendant and the plaintiff isn’t completed within that 120-day span, the court can dismiss the third-party claim without prejudice unless good cause is shown or service is extended.

So, the emphasis is on timely notice to both the third-party defendant and the plaintiff to preserve the ability to litigate the third-party issues. Shorter timeframes would risk insufficient notice, while longer timeframes aren’t the typical rule tied to impleader.