Also known as: rule of joinder · joinder rules · joinder
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A collection of procedural rules that permit or require the addition of parties or claims to an existing action when they share common questions or arise from the same transaction or occurrence.
Rebecca Ross seeks to represent a group of 150 homeowners harmed by a defective product sold by Radiant Technologies. She files a class action because adding every homeowner individually would create an unmanageable docket. The court finds joinder of all members impracticable and certifies the class under the numerosity standard.
Ronald Reed sues Riverfront Developments in federal court on a federal claim. He then adds a related state-law claim against an additional defendant arising from the same construction project. The court exercises supplemental jurisdiction because the claims form part of the same case or controversy.
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Ricardo Rojas transferred marital property without his spouse Rosalind Reed's written consent. In the probate proceeding the court includes the property in the augmented estate because the surviving spouse did not join the transfer in writing.
Renee Rogers and Raymond Ramos dispute title to land located in another state. The forum court applies its own procedural rules on joinder of parties while using the situs state's law to decide the substantive property issues.
Riverstone Manufacturing holds funds claimed by two competing creditors. It files an interpleader action naming both creditors as defendants. The court permits joinder even though the claims lack a common origin and the plaintiff denies full liability.
A foreign corporation with no U.S. residence is joined as a defendant in a contract dispute. The court permits suit in any judicial district and disregards that defendant's presence when determining proper venue for the remaining parties.
Supplemental jurisdiction extends to claims involving joinder or intervention of additional parties when those claims form part of the same case or controversy as the original action. The statute expressly includes such claims within the grant of supplemental jurisdiction.
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Rule 23(a)(1) requires that the class be so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable. This numerosity element focuses on whether individual joinder would be impractical rather than impossible.
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Rule 22 permits joinder of persons whose claims may expose the plaintiff to double or multiple liability. Joinder remains proper even when the claims lack a common origin or the plaintiff denies liability in whole or in part.
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A nonresident defendant may be sued in any judicial district. The joinder of that defendant is disregarded when determining where the action may be brought with respect to other defendants.
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…under Article III of the United States Constitution. Such supplemental jurisdiction shall include claims that involve the joinder or intervention of additional parties.” The statute’s grant of supplemental jurisdiction is broad. It applies to “all other claims” that form part of the same “case or controversy” as a…