K.S.A. 60-220.Permissive joinder of parties

Subsection (a)(1) lets multiple people join as plaintiffs in a single action if they assert a right to relief -- jointly, severally, or in the alternative -- arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences, and if a question of law or fact common to all of them will come up in the case. Subsection (a)(2) mirrors that rule for defendants: several people can be joined as defendants if a right to relief is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative arising from the same transaction or series, and a common question of law or fact will arise as to all of them.

Subsection (a)(3) makes clear that joinder doesn't force every plaintiff or defendant to have a stake in every piece of relief sought. Neither a plaintiff nor a defendant needs to be interested in obtaining or defending against all the relief demanded in the action, and the court can enter judgment for one or more plaintiffs according to what they're each entitled to, and against one or more defendants according to what each of them owes.

Subsection (b) gives the court a tool to manage the risk that comes with joining several parties together: it can issue orders, including separate trials, to protect a party from embarrassment, delay, expense, or other prejudice caused by including someone against whom that party asserts no claim and who asserts no claim against them.