What are the rules for joinder of parties in a civil suit?

In Maryland, the rules for joinder of parties in a civil suit are outlined in Rule 2-209 of the Maryland Rules. Joinder of parties means that an individual or entity can be joined with another in a civil suit. Joinder of parties occurs when the same claim or reason for relief, either actual or potential, exists between those parties. The rule states that any claim or defense arising out of the same transaction or occurrence or series of transaction or occurrences can be joined by the plaintiff if the separate claims are joined in the same complaint. Conversely, a defendant can join any claim against an opposing party arising out of the same transaction or occurrence or series of transaction or occurrences. The rule also outlines the requirements for permissive joinder, which is when plaintiffs join additional parties to the suit who have some relationship to the others already named in the lawsuit. Permissive joinder is allowed if there is some common question of law or fact that arises out of the same transaction or occurrence. On the other hand, impleader is when a third party is added to the lawsuit in order to be held responsible for the original case. This usually occurs when there is an additional party who had a role in the case but was not named in the original suit. In the end, joinder of parties allows for multiple parties to be joined in a single case, making it easier for the court system to hear all of the claims in a single proceeding.

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What are the rules for joinder of parties in a civil suit?

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