Joint and Several Liability in Alabama
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Alabama applies joint and several liability fully, allowing plaintiffs to recover the entire judgment from any defendant regardless of fault percentage.
How Alabama treats Joint and Several Liability
Alabama has not significantly restricted joint and several liability, meaning each defendant remains liable for the full amount owed to the plaintiff. This applies across tort cases, including personal injury and property damage claims. A defendant can seek contribution from co-defendants afterward, but the plaintiff can collect the entire judgment from any single defendant first.
The general definition of Joint and Several Liability
Multiple defendants can each be held fully responsible for the entire judgment, not just their share.
When two or more people or companies are sued together for causing harm, the injured person can collect the full amount from any one of them, rather than having to split the recovery among all defendants. This means if you win a $100,000 judgment against three defendants, you can demand all $100,000 from just one of them, and that defendant can then try to recover their fair share from the others. It protects the injured person by ensuring they get paid even if some defendants can't pay.
Read the full Joint and Several Liability entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Alabama.