LAW 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter Joinder and Pleading: Joinder, Punitive Damages, Pleading
Document Summary
Rule 20(a)(2)(a) states all persons may be joined in action as defendants if it is asserted against them any right to relief arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences. Not allowing joinder would require duplicate suits and more money. Exception: orders punishing criminally for contempt are appealable. Policy: if interlocutory orders were appealable it would protract litigation significantly, abusive tactics. Granting appeal for interlocutory orders would undermine authority of the trial judge. Policy: appeals would pose problem for resource limited parties. Don"t want to have review of non-determinative orders (if the other side wins, then the issue is moot anyway) Sc established criteria for review of punitive damage awards. Excessive punitive damages have been found to be in violation of the 14th amendments due process clause. F: p filed motion to amend original complaint to add complaints against new d and to seek joinder of original and new d.
