R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 14

(a) When Defendant May Bring in Third Party.

At any time after commencement of the action a defending party, as a third party

plaintiff, may cause a summons, complaint, Language Assistance Notice, and all

required documents to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or

may be liable to the third-party plaintiff for all or part of the plaintiff's claim against

the third-party plaintiff. The third-party plaintiff need not obtain leave to make the

service if the third-party plaintiff files the third-party complaint not later than ten

(10) days after serving the original answer. Otherwise the third-party plaintiff must

obtain leave on motion upon notice to all parties to the action. The person served

with the summons, third-party complaint, Language Assistance Notice, and all other

required documents hereinafter called the third-party defendant, shall make any

defenses to the third-party plaintiff's claim as provided in Rule 12 and any

counterclaims against the third-party plaintiff and cross-claims against other third-party defendants as provided in Rule 13. The third-party defendant may assert

against the plaintiff any defenses which the third-party plaintiff has to the plaintiff's

claim. The third-party defendant may also assert any claim against the plaintiff

arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's

claim against the third-party plaintiff. The plaintiff may assert any claim against the

third-party defendant arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject

matter of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff, and the third-party

defendant shall assert any defenses as provided in Rule 12 and any counterclaims

and cross-claims as provided in Rule 13. Any party may move to strike the third-party claim, or for its severance or separate trial. A third-party defendant may

proceed under this rule against any person not a party to the action that is or may be

liable to the third-party defendant for all or part of the claim made in the action

against the third-party defendant.

(b) When Plaintiff May Bring in Third Party. When a counterclaim is asserted

against a plaintiff, the plaintiff may cause a third-party to be brought in under

circumstances which under this rule would entitle a defendant to do so.

(c) Notice of Assignment. At the time of service of the third-party complaint,

notice shall be given to the third-party defendant by the third-party plaintiff as to

whether the case is assigned for trial and if so to what date and calendar.

(d) Filing of Third-party Documents. When using the EFS, all third-party

documents shall be filed in accordance with Rule 1(b)(3).