Joint and Several Liability in Connecticut
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Connecticut retains full joint and several liability for all damages when a defendant is more than 60% at fault.
How Connecticut treats Joint and Several Liability
Connecticut allows a plaintiff to recover the entire judgment from any defendant found more than 60% responsible for the injury. Defendants bearing 60% or less of fault are liable only for their proportionate share. This threshold protects defendants with minor fault while preserving the plaintiff's right to full recovery against primarily responsible parties.
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 Connecticut.