A party asserting a claim to relief as an original claim, counterclaim, cross- claim, or third-party claim may join, either as independent or as alternate claims, as many claims, legal or equitable, as the party has against an opposing party.
§ 25-701.Joinder of claims.
Article 7: Joinder and Consolidation of Actions · Last amended 1998 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceSection 25-701 lets a party asserting an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim join as many legal or equitable claims — independent or alternative — as it has against an opposing party.
Full Text of § 25-701
Source
R.S.1867, Code § 87, p. 407; Laws 1867, § 3, p. 71; R.S.1913, § 7657; C.S.1922, § 8601; C.S.1929, § 20-701; R.S.1943, § 25-701; Laws 1998, LB 234, § 3.
Plain-English Summary
Nebraska’s modern joinder rule starts from a permissive baseline. A party bringing a claim, whether as the original claim in the case, a counterclaim against the opposing party, a cross-claim against a co-party, or a third-party claim, does not have to bring just one theory or one cause of action. Section 25-701 lets that party join as many claims as it has against an opposing party, legal or equitable, and it does not matter whether those claims are independent of each other or offered as alternatives.
This reflects the same policy that runs through modern joinder practice: consolidate related disputes between the same parties into one proceeding instead of forcing multiple separate lawsuits over claims that could be resolved together. A plaintiff suing over a contract, for instance, is not barred from adding a related tort claim, or from pleading two alternative theories of recovery, in the same action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring more than one claim against the same defendant in a single Nebraska lawsuit?
Yes. Section 25-701 lets a party join as many legal or equitable claims as it has against an opposing party, in a single action.
Does this joinder right apply only to the plaintiff’s original claims?
No. It applies to original claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party claims alike.
Can I plead two claims that contradict each other as alternatives?
Yes. The section allows claims to be joined either as independent claims or as alternate claims.
Do the claims I join have to be related to each other in subject matter?
The statute does not require the joined claims to share a common subject matter; it allows joinder of as many claims as the party has against the opposing party.
Does this section limit how many defendants I can sue in one case?
No. Section 25-701 addresses joinder of claims. Joining multiple parties is addressed separately, including in Section 25-705.
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: joining multiple claims nebraska lawsuitcounterclaim cross claim joinder nebraskaalternative claims same lawsuit25-701 statutelegal and equitable claims joinder