Interpleader is a form of
Action originally developed under equity jurisprudence. It allows a
Plaintiff to initiate a lawsuit in order to compel two or more other parties to litigate a dispute. An interpleader
Action originates when the
Plaintiff holds property on behalf of another, but does not know to whom the property should be transferred. It is often used to resolve disputes arising under insurance contracts.
In an interpleader
Action, the party initiating the litigation, normally the
Plaintiff, is termed the stakeholder. The money or other property in controversy is called the res. All defendants having a possible interest in the subject matter of the case are called
Claimants. In some jurisdictions, the
Plaintiff is referred to as the
Plaintiff-in-interpleader and each
Claimant a
Claimant-in-interpleader.
Interpleader
