Persons may be joined as defendants against whom the right to relief is alleged to exist in the alternative, although a right to relief against one may be inconsistent with a right to relief against the other.
Section 9-14.Defendants Alternately Liable
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA plaintiff can name two or more defendants who might alternatively owe the relief sought, even when a finding against one would be inconsistent with a finding against the other.
Full Text of Section 9-14
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 94.)
Plain-English Summary
This rule lets a plaintiff join defendants where the right to relief exists in the alternative — meaning it is not yet clear which defendant is the one who owes it. The plaintiff does not have to pick a single theory or a single defendant up front.
The rule allows this joinder even when the claims against the different defendants are inconsistent with each other, so a right to relief against one defendant may conflict with a right to relief against the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue two defendants when I am not sure which one is liable?
Yes. Persons may be joined as defendants against whom the right to relief is alleged to exist in the alternative.
Do the claims against each defendant have to be consistent with each other?
No. The rule permits joinder even though a right to relief against one defendant may be inconsistent with a right to relief against the other.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 9-14). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: alternative liability defendants CTunsure which defendant is liableinconsistent claims against two defendantsalternative joinder rule Connecticut