(a) In every action before a justice of the peace, within the justice's jurisdiction, the defendant, if he or she has against the plaintiff any account, demand, or cause of action, cognizable before a justice of the peace, shall bring it forward and plead it as a setoff; and the justice shall enter on the docket the nature and amount of such counterclaim. Any defendant, neglecting to do so, shall, if the action against him or her be prosecuted to judgment, lose such account, demand, or cause of action, and be forever barred from recovering it.
(b) If the defendant has any account, demand, or cause of action, against the plaintiff, exceeding $25,000, the defendant may bring it forward and plead it as a setoff under subsection (a) of this section. The defendant does not, by neglecting to plead it, lose such cause of action.
(c) If the defendant pleads a setoff exceeding $25,000 and it is found on the trial that there is any sum due the defendant from the plaintiff, judgment shall be given against the plaintiff, in the defendant's favor, for such sum, provided the sum does not exceed $25,000. If the sum exceeds $25,000 that fact shall be stated on the record, and judgment shall be given for costs for the defendant, who may prosecute such cause of action in court; or the defendant may remit the excess above $25,000 and take judgment for that sum.
Structure Delaware Code
Title 10 - Courts and Judicial Procedure
Subchapter II. Civil Actions for Debt
§ 9522. Issuance and requirements of summons.
§ 9524. Service of summons; verification for default judgment.
§ 9525. Deposit for cost; representation of an artificial entity.
§ 9528. Requirement of special bail for certain adjournments.
§ 9529. Discharge of special bail.
§ 9530. Proceedings against special bail; scire facias.
§ 9531. Depositions of nonresidents.
§ 9533. Failure to appear; penalty.
§ 9534. Form of attachment for contempt.
§ 9535. Form of distress warrant.
§ 9536. Setoff or counterclaim.
§ 9537. Failure of defendant to appear; adjournment or judgment by default.
§ 9538. Application to vacate default judgment.
§ 9539. Failure of plaintiff to appear; adjournment or dismissal.
§ 9540. Entry of judgment; endorsement on cause of action.
§ 9542. Judgments against executor or administrator.
§ 9543. Setting aside judgment on warrant of attorney.
§ 9544. Six months stay of execution.
§ 9545. Nine months stay of execution; security.
§ 9546. Transfer of judgment to Superior Court docket after stay of execution.
§ 9548. Form of execution process.
§ 9549. Garnishees; time for appearance; pleadings.
§ 9550. Proceeding by garnishee charging collusion.
§ 9551. Appeal from proceeding by garnishee.
§ 9552. Time of binding of goods and chattels by execution; duration of lien.
§ 9554. Sale of goods levied upon; advertisement.
§ 9556. Duty of constable or sheriff upon receipt of execution; return of execution.
§ 9557. Venditioni exponas; issuance; requirements; effect.
§ 9558. Form of venditioni exponas.
§ 9560. Failure to pay over proceeds from execution.
§ 9561. Failure on return to produce receipt of proceeds.
§ 9562. Necessity of judgment and execution docket.
§ 9566. Entry of judgment satisfaction by justice.
§ 9567. Entry of judgment satisfaction by creditor or execution officer.
§ 9569. Transfer of judgment to Superior Court; lien on real estate.
§ 9571. Appeal in civil actions.
§ 9572. Proceedings on appeal.
§ 9573. Execution upon striking of appeal.
§ 9574. Abatement and dismissal.
§ 9576. Remedy against deceased surety; assignment of creditor's remedies to surety.
§ 9578. Survival of actions; parties.
§ 9579. Issuance, service and return of writ; proceedings.
§ 9580. Endorsement and docketing; assignment of judgment.
§ 9582. Proceeding by attachment.
§ 9583. Issuance of writ; affidavit.
§ 9584. Form of writ; form of Garnishee's Notice of Service.
§ 9585. Goods and chattels subject to attachment; notice; judgment; creditors.
§ 9586. Service on garnishee; compelling attendance.
§ 9587. Process to compel appearance of garnishee.
§ 9588. Garnishment proceedings.
§ 9589. Dissolution of attachment.
§ 9590. Delivery of goods to constable; defense of garnishee; liability of constable.