Joinder refers to the uniting of claims or parties in a single lawsuit. In federal courts, a person or entity may join as many claims, legal equitable, or maritime, as he or she has against the opposing party. There are different types of joinder. Compulsory joinder requires a party to be joined to a lawsuit when the court will not lose jurisdiction by joinder and complete relief cannot be given without the party present, or existing parties will be subject to inconsistent or multiple liabilities. Permissive joinder is allowed when parties are joined to a lawsuit for claims arising out of the same transaction or event, or involving a common question of law or factual issue. The court may order separate trials or make other orders to prevent a party from being prejudiced by permissive joinder.
Also, permissive joinder is used to join alternate and separate claims against an opposing party in a single lawsuit. Such joinder is allowed in the interest of judicial economy, to avoid the time and expense of multiple lawsuits.
