Joint and Several Liability in Vermont
State-specific overview · Tort Law
Vermont applies traditional joint and several liability, holding each defendant fully responsible for the entire judgment amount.
How Vermont treats Joint and Several Liability
Vermont maintains the traditional common-law rule of joint and several liability, allowing plaintiffs to recover the full judgment from any defendant regardless of that defendant's percentage of fault. Defendants can seek contribution from other liable parties after paying the judgment. Vermont has not significantly restricted this doctrine through comparative fault reforms. This approach favors plaintiffs seeking full recovery of damages.
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 Vermont.