All persons may be joined in one action as plaintiffs in whom any right of relief in respect to or arising out of the same transaction or series of transactions is alleged to exist either jointly or severally when, if such persons brought separate actions, any common question of law or fact would arise; provided, if, upon the motion of any party, it would appear that such joinder might embarrass or delay the trial of the action, the judicial authority may order separate trials, or make such other order as may be expedient, and judgment may be given for such one or more of the plaintiffs as may be found to be entitled to relief, for the relief to which he, she or they may be entitled; and there shall be but one entry fee, one jury fee, if claimed for jury trial, and such other costs as may by rule be prescribed.
Section 9-4.—Joinder of Plaintiffs in One Action
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceMultiple people with related rights arising from the same transaction can be joined as plaintiffs in one lawsuit, but the court can order separate trials if the joinder would complicate or delay the case.
Full Text of Section 9-4
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 84.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 9-4 lets people be joined together as plaintiffs in a single action when their right to relief arises out of the same transaction or series of transactions, whether their claims are joint or separate, and when separate lawsuits by each of them would raise a common question of law or fact. On motion of any party, if the judicial authority finds the joinder might embarrass or delay the trial, it can order separate trials or make another order it finds expedient.
Judgment may be entered for whichever plaintiff or plaintiffs are found entitled to relief, giving each the relief they are due. When multiple plaintiffs are joined this way, there is only one entry fee and one jury fee (if a jury trial is claimed), along with whatever other costs the rules prescribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can plaintiffs with separate claims be joined in one lawsuit?
Yes, if their claims arise from the same transaction or series of transactions and would raise a common question of law or fact if brought as separate actions.
Can the court split a joined case into separate trials?
Yes. On a party’s motion, if joinder would embarrass or delay the trial, the judicial authority may order separate trials or another expedient arrangement.
Do multiple joined plaintiffs pay separate filing fees?
No. When plaintiffs are joined under this section, there is only one entry fee and one jury fee, plus any other costs the rules prescribe.
Does every joined plaintiff have to win for the case to succeed?
No. Judgment may be given for whichever one or more plaintiffs are found entitled to relief, granting each the relief to which they are entitled.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 9-4). 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: joining multiple plaintiffs one lawsuitone entry fee joined plaintiffsseparate trials for joined plaintiffscommon question of law or fact joinderconsolidating plaintiffs same transaction