In the civil law. An action by a defendant against a plaintiff In a former action; a cross-bill or litigation. The term is used in practice in the states of Louisiana and Texas, derived from the re-conventio of the civil law. Reconvention ia not identical with set-off, but more extensive. See Pacific Exp. Co. v. Malin, 132 U. a 531 10 Sup. Ct 166, 33 L. Ed. 450; SubervlUe v. Adams, 47 La. Ann. 68, 16 South. 652; Glm-bel v. Gomprecht, 89 Tex. 497, 35 S. W. 470.