Whenever the court shall have acquired jurisdiction of any action under the provisions of this chapter or P.L. 2006, c. 103(C.37:1-28 et al.), the defendant therein may, by counterclaim, state any cause of action under this chapter or P.L. 2006, c. 103(C.37:1-28 et al.) which exists at the time of the service of the counterclaim.
N.J.S. § 2A:34-12