JOINDER
The union in one lawsuit of multiple parties who have the same rights or against whom rights are claimed as coplaintiffs or codefendants. The combination in one lawsuit of two or more causes of action, or grounds for relief. At COMMON LAW the acceptance by opposing parties that a particular issue is in dispute.
Joinder of Parties
For two or more persons to join together as
coplaintiffs or codefendants in a lawsuit, they
generally must share similar rights or liabilities.
At common law a person could not be added as
a plaintiff unless that person, jointly with the
other plaintiffs, was entitled to the whole recov-
ery. A person could not be added as a defendant
unless that person, jointly with the other defen-
dants, was liable for the entire demand. To be
more efficient, reduce costs, and reduce litiga-
tion, the modern PRACTICE OF LAW does not
proceed on the same principles.
