Joint and several liability is a legal concept that applies to situations where multiple parties are held responsible for the same obligation or wrongdoing. In such cases, each party can be individually liable for the entire obligation or damages, regardless of their proportional contribution to the problem. This means that the injured party can choose to pursue legal action against any or all of the parties involved and recover the full amount of damages from any one of them. Joint and several liability is commonly seen in contracts, torts, and certain types of financial obligations. It provides flexibility for the injured party to seek compensation from any available source, particularly in cases where one party may not have the financial means to fully cover the damages. However, it can also lead to unfair outcomes if one party is forced to bear the entire burden of liability.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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