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 or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice.
Rule 20.02.Separate trials.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 20.02 lets a court order separate trials or other protective measures when combining parties under Rule 20.01 would embarrass, delay, or add expense to a party who has no claim against, and faces no claim from, another party joined in the same case.
Full Text of Rule 20.02
Amendment History
The source reproduced here (current through June 18, 2026) records no amendment to this rule since its original adoption — no History line appears for it in the compiled rules. For the underlying adopting order and any later amendments, see the West’s Rules & Procedures.
Plain-English Summary
Joining multiple parties in one lawsuit under Rule 20.01 can create friction: a party might get pulled into a case even though no one is making a claim against them and they are not making a claim against anyone else in that part of the suit. Rule 20.02 gives the court tools to manage that problem.
The court can order separate trials, or issue any other order needed, to keep an uninvolved party from being embarrassed, delayed, or put to needless expense by staying tied to claims that do not concern them. This keeps joinder efficient without forcing unrelated disputes to be tried together just because they share a case caption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Kentucky court split a joint case into separate trials?
Yes. Rule 20.02 lets the court order separate trials, or other appropriate orders, to prevent delay or prejudice when parties have been joined under Rule 20.01.
What protection exists if I'm named in a lawsuit but no claim is made against me?
Rule 20.02 lets the court step in to prevent that party from being embarrassed, delayed, or put to expense because of a claim that does not involve them, including by ordering separate trials.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 20.02). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: separate trials for joined partiesprotecting a party with no claim against themCR 20.02court order to prevent prejudice from joindersplitting a joint lawsuit