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Joint And Several Liability
Joint and several liability means that if you are one of multiple defendants, the plaintiff can collect the full amount of a judgment from you alone, even if others are also at fault.
What it actually is
It is a legal doctrine that allows a plaintiff to sue and recover the entire damages from any one defendant, regardless of that defendant's proportionate share of fault. This typically appears in cases involving multiple tortfeasors (wrongdoers) or co-defendants in contract or personal injury lawsuits. The defendant who pays more than their share can later seek contribution from the other defendants.
Why it matters in your case
For a defendant, it means you could be forced to pay the entire judgment even if you were only partially responsible, leaving you to pursue reimbursement from co-defendants. For a plaintiff, it simplifies recovery because you can pursue the defendant with the most assets or insurance, rather than trying to collect from each defendant separately.
The common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is that 'joint and several' means all defendants are equally liable for the same amount. In reality, liability is 'joint' (shared) and 'several' (individual), so each defendant can be held responsible for the whole debt.
Get the actual rule
Definitions are orientation; rules are authority
This page explains the concept. When it matters to your case, read the rule that governs it in your court — we hold Texas, federal and Washington court rules word for word, and every state's official resources are on the state pages. If someone cites a case at you, check that it exists first.
Related
Terms that travel with this one
General explanation, not legal advice, and not specific to any state — procedures and deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: every real option.