Article 40 Third and subsequent parties

(1)

In any action where—

(a)

a defendant claims to be entitled to contribution or indemnity from or other relief over against another defendant or any person not a party to the action (in this Article referred to as a “third party”);

(b)

a third party makes a like claim against any other person, whether a party to the action or not (in this Article referred to as a “fourth party”),

a county court shall have jurisdiction to grant, subject to county court rules, any such relief as may be granted in the like case by the High Court to a defendant or third party.

(2)

Subject to county court rules, the practice and procedure as between a defendant and a third party and as between a third party and a fourth party shall be the same as the practice and procedure as between a plaintiff and defendant.

(3)

County court rules shall apply the foregoing provisions of this Article to—

(a)

any action wherein a fourth party makes, as such, a claim against another person not a party to the action; and

(b)

any action wherein any subsequent like claims are made successively.

(4)

A party shall not be prejudiced or unnecessarily delayed in the prosecution of his claim by reason of questions between other parties in which he is not concerned.