A defendant asserts a counterclaim for damages arising from a lease arrearage, which is not connected to the plaintiff’s contract claim. What is the proper characterization of this counterclaim?

• A. Compulsory counterclaim that must be raised in the same action.
• B. Permissive counterclaim that may be filed as an independent claim.
• C. Not a counterclaim; it must be filed as a separate action.
• D. An improper counterclaim that should be dismissed.

Answer: (B)