Rule 1706.1.Joinder of Additional Defendants. Cross-Claims.

Adopted April 4, 1990 · Last amended March 23, 2007 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1706.1 limits joinder of additional defendants and cross-claims in a class action to parties who are solely liable, liable over, or jointly or severally liable on the plaintiff's cause of action.

Full Text of Rule 1706.1

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Any defendant or additional defendant may only join as an additional defendant any person not a party to the action, or may assert a cross-claim against another party to the action, who may be

(1) solely liable on the plaintiff’s cause of action, or

(2) liable over to the joining party on the plaintiff’s cause of action, or

(3) jointly or severally liable with the joining party on the plaintiff’s cause of action.

End

Plain-English Summary

Class actions keep joinder tightly controlled. This rule lets a defendant or additional defendant join a non-party as an additional defendant, or assert a cross-claim against another party, only where that party may be solely liable on the plaintiff's claim, liable over to the joining party, or jointly or severally liable with it. The limits keep a class case from sprawling into unrelated disputes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be joined as an additional defendant in a class action?

Only a party who may be solely liable on the plaintiff's claim, liable over to the joining party, or jointly or severally liable with it.

Official Note

Official Note: The right of joinder under Rule 1706.1 of an additional defendant based upon liability ‘‘on the plaintiff’s cause of action’’ is not as broad as the right under Rule 2252(a) governing the joinder of additional defendants generally. Similiarly, the right of cross-claim under this rule is not as broad as the right under Rule 1031.1 governing cross-claims generally.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1706.1 adopted April 4, 1990, effective July 1, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 2283; amended March 23, 2007, effective June 1, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 1480. Immediately preceeding text appears at serial page (255287).

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. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: class action joinderadditional defendants classcross-claims class action