(a) Permissive Joinder. All persons may join in one action as plaintiffs if they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action. All persons may be joined in one action as defendants if there is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative, any right to relief in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all of them will arise in the action. A plaintiff or defendant need not be interested in obtaining or defending against all the relief demanded. Judgment may be given for one or more of the plaintiffs according to their respective rights to relief, and against one or more defendants according to their respective liabilities.
Rule 20.Permissive Joinder of Parties.
Last amended July 15, 1994 · Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 20 lets multiple plaintiffs join together or multiple defendants be joined together whenever their claims arise from the same transaction or series of transactions and share a common question of law or fact, while letting the court order separate trials to avoid unfair prejudice or delay.
Full Text of Rule 20
(b) Separate Trials. The court may make such orders as will prevent a party from being embarrassed, delayed or put to expense by the inclusion of a party against whom the party asserts no claim and who asserts no claim against the party, and may order separate trials or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice.
Amendment History
(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 258 effective November 15, 1976; and by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994)
Notes
Note: AS 10.06.675, as enacted by ch. 166, § 1, SLA 1988, amended Civil Rule 20 by allowing a corporation to join a member who received an improper distribution in an action under AS 10.06.675 without regard to the criteria for joinder in Civil Rule 20.
Plain-English Summary
People may join as plaintiffs in one action if they assert a right to relief — jointly, severally, or in the alternative — arising from the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences, and if a common question of law or fact will arise for all of them; the same test lets multiple defendants be joined together. No plaintiff or defendant has to be interested in every form of relief sought, and judgment can be entered for each plaintiff and against each defendant according to their own rights and liabilities.
To keep joinder from becoming unfair, Rule 20(b) lets the court order separate trials, or make other orders, to prevent a party from being embarrassed, delayed, or put to needless expense by being joined with someone it has no real claim against or that has no real claim against it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can several people who were all hurt in the same accident sue together?
Yes, if their claims arise from the same transaction or occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences, and share a common question of law or fact.
Do all the plaintiffs joined in one case have to want the same relief?
No — a party joined under Rule 20 doesn’t need to be interested in obtaining or defending against every form of relief sought; judgment can be tailored to each party’s own rights and liabilities.
Can the court separate joined parties into different trials?
Yes — Rule 20(b) lets the court order separate trials or other measures to prevent a party from being unfairly embarrassed, delayed, or burdened with expense by the joinder.
Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 20). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alaska (Alaska Const. art. IV, § 15). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: permissive joinder Alaskamultiple plaintiffs one lawsuitjoining defendants Alaska civil caseAlaska R. Civ. P. 20