Rule 20.01.Permissive joinder.

Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceRule 20.01 allows multiple plaintiffs or defendants to join in one lawsuit whenever their claims arise from the same transaction, occurrence, or series of occurrences and share a common question of law or fact, even if no single party is interested in every claim or every form of relief sought.

Full Text of Rule 20.01

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All persons may join in one action as plaintiffs if they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action. All persons may be joined in one action as defendants if there is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative, any right to relief in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action. A plaintiff or defendant need not be interested in obtaining or defending against all the relief demanded. Judgment may be given for one or more of the plaintiffs according to their respective rights to relief, and against one or more defendants according to their respective liabilities.

End

Amendment History

The source reproduced here (current through June 18, 2026) records no amendment to this rule since its original adoption — no History line appears for it in the compiled rules. For the underlying adopting order and any later amendments, see the West’s Rules & Procedures.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 20.01 sets the standard for joining multiple plaintiffs or multiple defendants in a single case. Plaintiffs can sue together, and defendants can be sued together, as long as two conditions are met: their claims come out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of connected events, and the case raises at least one question of law or fact common to all of them.

The rule does not require every plaintiff to want the same relief or every defendant to face the same liability. One plaintiff might be owed money under a contract while another was hurt in the same underlying event; the court can still enter judgment for each plaintiff according to what that plaintiff is entitled to, and against each defendant according to that defendant's own liability. This lets related disputes be resolved in one proceeding instead of many separate lawsuits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can multiple plaintiffs file one lawsuit together in Kentucky?

Yes, under Rule 20.01, as long as their claims arise from the same transaction, occurrence, or series of occurrences and share a common question of law or fact. They can join even if each plaintiff seeks different relief.

Do all joined defendants have to be liable for the same thing?

No. Rule 20.01 lets defendants be joined even though the relief sought against them differs, and the court enters judgment against each defendant according to that defendant's own liability.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 20.01). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: joining multiple plaintiffs in one lawsuitsuing multiple defendants togetherpermissive party joinder KentuckyCR 20.01same transaction or occurrence rule