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Verified Counterclaim

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VERIFIED COUNTERCLAIM

1. On or about , plaintiff and defendant PQR, Inc., entered into a commercial lease agreement which related to defendant PQR=s use and occupancy of commercial space at , in the Township of .

2. Defendant PQR intended to use the commercial space for the operation of a .

3. Defendant PQR took possession of the said space and began operation in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement.

4. The lease agreement stated that the commercial space lease by defendant PQR was square feet.

5. The lease further provided that it was for a term of years with an option to extend the term upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

6. Based on the square feet of space rented to defendant PQR, the lease provided that PQR would pay a Afixed minimum rent@ of per square foot for the first year, for the second year, for the third year, for the fourth year, and for the fifth year. In each instance the dollar amount per square foot was multiplied times the amount of square feet (i.e., 1,000) to arrive at an annual and monthly rent amount. Said calculations appear at Sections and of the lease.

7. Similarly, the lease provided that defendant PQR would also pay a common area maintenance charge (or ACAM@ charge) based on the square footage leased to PQR. Said calculations appear at Sections and .

8. The lease agreement also provided that defendant PQR would be obligated to pay its proportionate share of real estate taxes. Said provision appears at Sections and .

9. Finally, the lease agreement provided that defendant PQR would be obligated to pay management fees which are part of, and included within, defendant PQR=s CAM charges. Said provision appears at Section .

10. Despite the foregoing, it has come to the attention of defendant PQR that in fact the square footage of its leased area is not square feet but rather, square feet.

11. Thus, upon reviewing calculations relating to the monthly rent paid by PQR, PQR has been overbilled and has overpaid various amounts of monthly rent.

12. Additionally, PQR has been overbilled and has overpaid various amount of CAM and tax charges.

13. Finally, plaintiff has attempted to bill PQR for an amount for a Acapital replacement cost fund@ which plaintiff has included in PQR=s CAM charges despite the fact that there is no such authority or provision for said charge.

FIRST COUNT—MUTUAL MISTAKE

14. There exists a mutual mistake of fact which was material to the , lease agreement as to the gross amount of square footage as to defendant PQR=s leased space.

15. Said mutual mistake warrants the equitable remedy of reformation of the lease agreement so as to modify said lease to adjust the amount of square footage.

16. Additionally, defendant PQR is entitled to a credit for amounts overpaid to plaintiff as a result of overcharges to PQR=s monthly rent amounts, CAM charges, and taxes.

WHEREFORE, defendant PQR prays for relief as follows:

a) For a finding that a mutual mistake occurred as to the representation of square footage of PQR=s leased space in the lease agreement;

b) For reformation of any and all provisions respecting the square footage of leased space as contained in the lease agreement in accordance with the mutual mistake;

c) For a credit to PQR for any and all amounts which were overbilled and/or overpaid by PQR to plaintiff as a result of the mutual mistake;

d) For counsel fees and costs relating to this action; and

e) For any other relief which this court deems is just and necessary.

COUNT TWO—UNILATERAL MISTAKE

17. Defendant PQR herein repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the First Count of this counterclaim as if same were fully set forth herein at length.

18. In the event the court finds that only defendant PQR was mistaken as to the amount of square footage respecting its leased space, defendant is still entitled to the equitable remedy of reformation since the enforcement of the erroneous and mistaken representation of square footage of PQR=s leased space would be unconscionable and plaintiff either knew or had reason to know of the mistake.

WHEREFORE, defendant PQR prays for relief as follows:

a) For a finding that a unilateral mistake occurred as to the representation of square footage of PQR=s leased space;

b) For reformation of any and all provisions respecting the square footage of leased space as contained in the lease agreement in accordance with the unilateral mistake;

c) For a credit to PQR for any and all amounts which were overbilled and/or overpaid by PQR to plaintiff as a result of the unilateral mistake;

d) For counsel fees and costs relating to this action; and

e) For any other relief which this court deems is just and necessary.

COUNT THREE—UNJUST ENRICHMENT

19. Defendant PQR herein repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the First and Second Counts of this counterclaim as if same were fully set forth herein at length.

20. Because of the overbilling and overpayments to plaintiff by PQR, plaintiff has been unjustly enriched to the detriment of PQR.

WHEREFORE, defendant PQR prays for relief as follows:

a) For a credit and/or compensatory damages to PQR for any and all amounts which were overbilled and/or overpaid by PQR to plaintiff;

b) For counsel fees and costs relating to this action; and

c) For any other relief which this court deems is just and necessary.

COUNT FOUR—BREACH OF CONTRACT

21. Defendant PQR herein repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the First, Second and Third Counts of this counterclaim as if same were fully set forth herein at length.

22. Plaintiff has breached the lease agreement by overbilling and overcharging defendant PQR for amounts of monthly rent, CAM charges, and management fees.

WHEREFORE, defendant PQR prays for relief as follows:

a) For a credit and/or consequential damages to PQR for any and all amounts which were overbilled and/or overpaid by PQR to plaintiff;

b) For counsel fees and costs relating to this action; and

c) For any other relief which this court deems is just and necessary.

COUNT FIVE—DECLARATORY JUDGMENT

23. Defendant PQR herein repeats and realleges the allegations contained in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Counts of this counterclaim as if same were fully set forth herein at length.

24. Plaintiff=s attempt to interpose a Acapital replacement cost fund@ charge and include same in defendant PQR=s CAM charges is not permitted or authorized under the terms of the lease agreement.

25. Defendant PQR is uncertain as to its rights under the terms of the lease agreement and accordingly it is need of declaratory relief barring and prohibiting plaintiff from interposing, billing, or charging PQR with any costs relating to a Acapital replacement cost fund.@

WHEREFORE, defendants demand judgment as follows:

a) Declaring and finding that plaintiff may not interpose or charge defendant PQR with any contribution or charge relating to any Acapital replacement cost fund@ under the lease agreement;

b) For counsel fees and costs relating to this action; and

c) For any other relief which this court deems is just and necessary.

DESIGNATED TRIAL COUNSEL

Defendants hereby designate John Lawyer, Esq. as trial counsel in this matter.

ENTIRE CONTROVERSY CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify pursuant to Rule 4:5-1 that this matter is not the subject of any other action pending in any Court or of a pending arbitration proceeding, and that there exist no other parties to be joined to this action.

JOHN LAWYER, ESQ.

Attorneys for defendants

Dated:

By:

Enter text

What a Verified Counterclaim Is and when it's used

A Verified Counterclaim is a formal pleading filed by a defendant that asserts affirmative claims against the plaintiff and is accompanied by a verification — a signed, sworn statement attesting to the truth of the facts alleged. It appears as part of the defendant's responsive papers and must comply with applicable court rules, pleading standards, and any verification form or jurat required by the forum. Verified counterclaims typically recite factual allegations, statutory or tort bases for relief, and a specific demand; their sworn nature can affect discovery, motions, and credibility considerations.

Why a Verified Counterclaim matters in litigation

Filing a verified counterclaim preserves affirmative claims against the plaintiff, puts those claims on the record, and can streamline resolution by combining disputes into one case.

Why a Verified Counterclaim matters in litigation

Who prepares and files a Verified Counterclaim

Timely preparation ensures claims are preserved and meets procedural requirements for verification and service under court rules.

  • Defendants and parties opposing the plaintiff who need to assert their own claims within the same action.
  • Civil litigators and in-house counsel who must align pleadings with strategy and preservation of claims.
  • Paralegals and docketing staff responsible for meeting service and filing requirements under local rules.

Who can sign or verify the pleading

Party Representative

A defendant or corporate officer who has personal knowledge of the facts may sign and verify the counterclaim; the signer must be able to swear to the statements under penalty of perjury, or an authorized agent may verify if state rules permit.

Attorney / Counsel

An attorney of record ordinarily prepares and files the pleading; counsel signs the filing per court rules and may verify if permitted by jurisdictional practice, but verification more commonly requires the party's oath.

Essential information to include on a Verified Counterclaim

Case Caption: Court name, parties
Case Number: Assigned docket number
Statement of Facts: Concise factual allegations
Legal Basis: Claims and statutes
Verification: Signed jurat or oath
Relief Requested: Specific damages or remedies

Core parts of a professional Verified Counterclaim

A well-drafted verified counterclaim is structured, factual, and precise; it mirrors complaint conventions while adding a verification that complies with the forum's statutory or local rule requirements.

Caption

Identifies the court, title of action, and docket number so the counterclaim is properly attached to the existing case and accepted by the clerk.

Pleadings

Numbered factual allegations that explain events, dates, and parties with enough detail to permit the plaintiff to respond and to support the legal theories asserted.

Claims

Clear statement of causes of action (statutory or common law) with elements and how the facts satisfy each element.

Damages and Relief

Specific remedies sought, including monetary damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or attorneys' fees when available.

Verification Clause

A jurat or sworn statement by the verifying party attesting that the facts are true under penalty of perjury, formatted to satisfy local rules or statutes.

Signature Block

Signature, printed name, title (if corporate), date, and contact information for the signing party or counsel in compliance with filing and service rules.

Step-by-step: preparing and filing a Verified Counterclaim

Follow these ordered steps to prepare, verify, serve, and file a counterclaim that meets procedural and verification requirements.

  • 01
    Draft: Assemble factual paragraphs and legal bases; format to local rules.
  • 02
    Verify: Have the party sign the verification under oath or declaration.
  • 03
    Serve: Serve opposing counsel per rules; preserve proof of service.
  • 04
    File: Submit to the court clerk or e-filing system within applicable deadlines.

How to set up an online verified counterclaim workflow

Configure an e-filing workflow that preserves verification, audit trails, and any required signer authentication for court submission or counsel exchange.

Field Mapping Map caption, numbered paragraphs, and verification block to editable fields
Signer Authentication Use email + SMS code or KBA where jurisdictionally required
Audit Trail Capture timestamps, IP addresses, and signer actions
Template Saving Save verified counterclaim as reusable template for similar matters
Export Format Export PDF/A or court-acceptable PDF for e-filing

Where to send and how to submit a verified counterclaim

A verified counterclaim must be served on all parties and filed with the court in accordance with local rules and any electronic filing requirements.

  • Opposing Counsel: Serve per civil procedure rules prior to or at filing
  • Court Clerk: File with the clerk or via the court's e-filing system
  • E-Filing Portal: Submit the final PDF with verification and supporting exhibits
  • Register Proof: Retain filed stamped copy and proof of service for records

Electronic submission and platform considerations

Ensure the platform preserves the verification jurat, provides an immutable audit trail, and saves a court-ready PDF for filing and service.

  • signNow: Supports PDF export, audit trail, and authentication options
  • Court Portals: Require court-acceptable PDF format and may limit file size
  • Authentication: Use required MFA or identity-proofing when the court requires stronger evidence

Typical timing and deadlines to track

Deadlines vary by jurisdiction and pleading cycle; track the answer deadline, service timeframe, and any local requirements that affect the timing of a verified counterclaim.

Answer Deadline:

Often 21 days after service in federal court (see FRCP); state rules vary

Counterclaim Timing:

Assert counterclaims within the answering pleading deadline unless amended later with leave

Service Requirements:

Serve opposing parties promptly and retain proof of service

E-Filing Cutoffs:

Verify court portal deadlines for same-day filing acceptance

Statute of Limitations:

Confirm applicable limitations to avoid forfeiture of claims

Key milestones from drafting to court entry

These sequential milestones outline the major stages from preparation through final court filing and case processing.

01

Draft Completed

Prepare verified counterclaim with exhibits and verification language.

02

Party Verification

Obtain sworn signature or declaration from the verifying party.

03

Service of Process

Serve the plaintiff and file proof of service with the court.

04

Clerk Filing

Court accepts and enters the counterclaim on the docket.

Common errors to avoid when preparing a Verified Counterclaim

  • Using informal or vague verification language that does not meet the court's sworn statement requirements.
  • Mismatched party names or captions that prevent the clerk from associating the filing with the correct case file.
  • Failing to serve all required parties or neglecting to file a proof of service with the court.
  • Including assertions beyond the verifier's personal knowledge, which can expose the signer to perjury risk.

Penalties and procedural risks for defective verifications

Perjury Exposure: Criminal and civil risk
Motion to Strike: Court may strike false or improper claims
Sanctions: Monetary or case-management penalties
Dismissal Risk: Claims may be dismissed procedurally
Preclusion: Loss of the right to assert certain claims
Fee Liability: Potential adverse fee awards

Selected eSignature vendor comparison for verified pleadings and e-filing

Comparison of common vendor pricing and capabilities relevant to verification, audit trails, and HIPAA/enterprise compliance; signNow is shown first per vendor ordering rules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial, no credit card Verify with vendor Verify with vendor Verify with vendor Verify with vendor
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes (BAA available) Yes Yes No No

Real-world scenarios where a Verified Counterclaim is used

These concise examples show typical fact patterns and how a verified counterclaim functions to protect defendant claims in the same action.

Landlord–Tenant Dispute

Tenant eviction initiated by plaintiff based on alleged breach of lease

  • Defendant asserts counterclaim for withheld security deposit and repairs
  • The verified counterclaim supplies sworn facts about payments, repair notices, and dates, attaching rent ledgers and notices as exhibits to preserve the defendant's monetary claim.

Commercial Contract Breach

Vendor sues for nonpayment on an invoice

  • Defendant files a verified counterclaim for defective performance and setoff
  • The counterclaim gives specific performance dates, product defects, and mitigation steps under oath and seeks damages plus costs.

Common questions and answers about Verified Counterclaims

Answers to frequently asked procedural and practical questions about drafting, verifying, and filing a counterclaim.


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