(a) Cross-Claim. Except as otherwise provided by R. 4:67-4 (summary actions) and subject to the mandatory joinder provisions of R. 4:30A a pleading may state as a cross-claim by one party against a co-party including a claim that the latter is or may be liable to the cross-claimant for all or part of a claim asserted in the action against the cross-claimant.
(b) Claim for Contribution or Claim for Indemnity. A defendant shall assert a claim for contribution or indemnity against any party to the action by inserting in the answer above the signature and under the heading "Claim for Contribution" or "Claim for Indemnity", a general demand for contribution or indemnity from a named party and specifying the statute under which such claim is made, but without setting forth the facts upon which the claim is based. If a claim for contribution or indemnity is made, the answer shall be served upon the parties against whom such relief is sought and no responsive pleading thereto need be filed. A motion at trial for the dismissal of the complaint as against a co-defendant shall be made and proceeded upon in accordance with R. 4:37-2(c).
(c) Time for Assertion. Cross-claims may be asserted by any defendant as of right within 90 days after service upon the defendant of the original complaint or after service of the complaint upon the party against whom the cross-claim is asserted, whichever is later. A cross-claim may be thereafter asserted only by leave of court, which shall be freely given. A copy of the proposed cross-claim shall be annexed to the notice of motion seeking such leave. A non-settling defendant's failure to have asserted a cross-claim for contribution against a settling defendant, however, shall not preclude either an allocation of a percentage of negligence by the finder of fact against the settling defendant or a credit in favor of the non-settling defendant consistent with that allocation, provided plaintiff was fairly apprised prior to trial that the liability of the settling defendant remained an issue and was accorded a fair opportunity to meet that issue at trial.
