N.Y. Civil Practice Law & Rules § 3011: Kinds of pleadings

§ 3011. Kinds of pleadings. There shall be a complaint and an answer.

An answer may include a counterclaim against a plaintiff and a

cross-claim against a defendant. A defendant's pleading against another

claimant is an interpleader complaint, or against any other person not

already a party is a third-party complaint. There shall be a reply to a

counterclaim denominated as such, an answer to an interpleader complaint

or third-party complaint, and an answer to a cross-claim that contains a

demand for an answer. If no demand is made, the cross-claim shall be

deemed denied or avoided. There shall be no other pleading unless the

court orders otherwise.