If in a single action a judgment is entered jointly against more than one defendant, the court upon motion may enter an appropriate judgment for one of the defendants against another defendant if (a) the moving defendant has discharged the judgment by payment or has paid more than a pro rata share of the judgment and (b) the moving defendant has a right to contribution or to recovery over from the other defendant.
Rule 2-614.Judgment of contribution or recovery over
Circuit Court · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2-614 lets a defendant who is held jointly liable in a single judgment, and who pays more than a fair share, get a follow-on judgment against a co-defendant for contribution or full recovery over.
Full Text of Rule 2-614
Committee Note & Source
Source. This Rule is derived from former Rule 605 d.
Plain-English Summary
When a court enters one judgment jointly against several defendants, the defendants remain on the hook to each other even after the plaintiff is paid. This rule gives a defendant who discharged the judgment — or paid more than a pro rata share of it — a way to get a judgment against another liable defendant, without filing a separate lawsuit. A simple motion in the same case is enough.
Two things have to line up before the court will grant that follow-on judgment: the moving defendant must have paid the judgment (in full or more than their fair share), and that defendant must have a right to contribution or to recovery over from the other defendant. The rule doesn't create that right — it comes from other law — but it gives defendants who already have it a direct, efficient path to enforce it inside the same action rather than starting over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can ask for a judgment under this rule?
A defendant who was held jointly liable with others in a single judgment, who has either discharged the judgment by paying it or paid more than a pro rata share, and who has a right to contribution or recovery over from another defendant.
Does the moving defendant need to file a new lawsuit against the co-defendant?
No. Rule 2-614 lets the defendant proceed by motion within the same action rather than starting a separate case.
Does this rule create a right to contribution or reimbursement?
No. It assumes the moving defendant already has that right under other law and provides the procedural mechanism to convert it into a judgment.
Where does this rule come from?
The source note traces it to former Rule 605 d.
Source & verification. Rule text, Committee Note, Source note, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Maryland Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Maryland. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: contribution judgment marylandjudgment over against codefendantjoint judgment contributionrecovery over co-defendantindemnity between codefendants