Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 20 lets multiple plaintiffs sue together, or multiple defendants be sued together, whenever their claims grow out of the same transaction or series of events and share a common question of law or fact, while letting the court order separate trials if the joint case becomes unmanageable.
(1)All persons may join in one [1] 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.
(2)All persons may be joined in one [1] 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 defendants 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. Unwilling plaintiffs who could join under this rule may be joined by a plaintiff as defendants, and the defendant may make any persons who could be joined under this rule parties by alleging their interest therein with a prayer that their rights in the controversy be determined, along with any counterclaim or cross-claim against them, if any, as if they had been originally joined as parties.
(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 he asserts no claim and who asserts no claim against him, and may order separate trials of the entire case or separate issues therein, or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice.
Amendment History
This rule’s current text took effect January 1, 1970. For the full history of earlier amendments and adoption orders, see the Indiana Office of Court Services.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 20 governs when separate people can join forces in a single lawsuit, either as multiple plaintiffs or multiple defendants. Section A allows this whenever two things are both true: the claims involved arise from the same transaction, occurrence, or connected series of events, and at least one question of law or fact is common to everyone joined. Plaintiffs meeting that test can join together and assert their rights jointly, individually, or as alternatives to one another. Defendants meeting the same test can be sued together the same way, and the rule makes clear that no plaintiff or defendant has to be interested in every form of relief sought — the court can enter judgment for some plaintiffs and not others, and against some defendants and not others, matching each party's own rights and liabilities.
The rule also hands a defendant tools ordinarily associated with the plaintiff's side of the case. Someone who could join voluntarily as a plaintiff but won't can instead be named as a defendant, and a defendant who wants to bring additional people into the case — whether as plaintiffs or defendants — can do so through a cross-claim or counterclaim, describing their interest in the dispute and asking the court to sort out everyone's rights together, as though they had been part of the case from the start.
Section B is the release valve for cases where joinder, once allowed, turns into a burden. If including a party who has no claim against, and faces no claim from, another party in the case would cause needless expense, delay, or embarrassment, the court can order separate trials — for the whole case or just particular issues — or make other orders to keep the litigation moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue multiple defendants together in one Indiana lawsuit?
Yes, if the claims against them arise out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of connected events, and at least one question of law or fact is common to all of them.
Do the claims of the people joining a lawsuit have to be identical?
No. Rule 20 allows people to join and assert rights jointly, individually, or as alternatives to one another, as long as the shared-origin and common-question requirements are met.
Does every plaintiff joined in a case have to want the same relief?
No. A plaintiff or defendant doesn't have to be interested in obtaining or defending against everything demanded in the case. The court can enter judgment for some plaintiffs and against some defendants without affecting the others.
Can a defendant bring in additional parties under Rule 20?
Yes. A defendant can use a cross-claim or counterclaim to name people who could have been joined by the plaintiff, describing their interest in the controversy and asking the court to determine their rights along with everyone else's.
What happens if joining everyone in one case makes the litigation too complicated?
The court can order separate trials of the whole case or of particular issues, or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice to a party who has no real stake in a claim involving other joined parties.
What's the difference between Rule 20 and Rule 19?
Rule 20 is permissive — it lets parties join a case when it makes sense to. Rule 19 is mandatory — it requires certain parties to be joined because the case can't be resolved completely and without prejudice to them otherwise.
Can an unwilling plaintiff be forced into a case under Rule 20?
An unwilling plaintiff who could otherwise join the case can instead be named as a defendant.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure (T.R. 20). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Indiana, under its inherent constitutional rulemaking power (reaffirmed by Ind. Code 34-8-1-1 and 34-8-2-1); originally enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1969. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
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