Judgment may be given for or against one or more of several plaintiffs, and for or against one or more of several defendants; and it may, when the justice of the case requires it, determine the ultimate rights of the parties on each side, as between themselves.
§ 578.Given For Or Against One Or More of Several Plaintiffs Or Defendants
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 1. Judgment in General · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 578 lets a court enter judgment for or against one or more of several plaintiffs or defendants rather than treating every party the same way, and lets the court sort out the parties' rights among themselves when the case calls for it.
Full Text of § 578
Plain-English Summary
Multi-party litigation rarely resolves in one clean stroke for everybody. This section gives the court room to match the judgment to the evidence: it can rule for some plaintiffs and against others, or for some defendants and against others, in the same case.
The second half of the section goes further. When justice requires it, the court can use the judgment to settle the parties' rights as between themselves — for example, allocating responsibility among co-defendants — rather than leaving that fight for a separate lawsuit.
Read together with § 579, which lets the court enter judgment against some defendants while the action proceeds against the rest, this section reflects a practical reality: a single complaint often bundles claims and defenses that don't all rise or fall together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a court rule for one defendant and against another in the same case?
Yes. Section 578 allows judgment for or against one or more of several defendants, rather than requiring the same outcome for all of them.
Does this section let the court resolve disputes between co-defendants?
Yes, when the justice of the case requires it, the court may use the judgment to determine the parties' ultimate rights as between themselves.
Does this apply to multiple plaintiffs too?
Yes, the same flexibility applies where several plaintiffs are involved — judgment can be given for or against one or more of them individually.
Amendment History
Enacted 1872.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: judgment multiple defendants californiaseveral judgment california civil procedure