RulesofCivilProcedure.com Civil Procedure · Every State

Rule 1657.Joinder of Causes of Action Prohibited.

Adopted November 29, 1963 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceNo cause of action other than obtaining judgment on the lien claim may be joined, except where the improvement spans more than one county and claims have been filed in more than one of them.

Full Text of Rule 1657

Text size

No other cause of action may be joined with an action to obtain judgment on a claim except that where the improvement is located in more than one county and claims have been filed in more than one of said counties the plaintiff may join the claims in a single action.
End

Plain-English Summary

This rule keeps a mechanics’-lien action focused. The plaintiff may not join any other cause of action with the action to obtain judgment on the lien claim, with a narrow exception for the case where the improvement is located in more than one county and claims have been filed accordingly.

Confining the suit to enforcing the lien keeps the proceeding tied to the recorded claim and the statutory remedy, rather than letting it expand into general contract or other disputes that belong in an ordinary action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other claims be joined with a mechanics' lien action?

No, except that lien claims on the same improvement filed in more than one county may be joined.

Official Note

Official Note: adopted November 29, 1963, effective January 1, 1964. Under Section 306(a) of the Mechanics’ Lien Law of 1963, 49 P. S. § 1306(a), the claimant may join in one mechanics’ lien claims against the same property arising from work done under separate contracts or against more than one structure if intended to form part of the same plant.

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text
Also known as: joinder prohibited mechanics lienone cause of action lienlien action joinder