Chapter 39: Oklahoma Pleading Code · Last amended November 1, 2004 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 2020 allows multiple plaintiffs or defendants to join in one lawsuit whenever their claims arise from the same transaction, a related series of transactions with a common question, or are connected to the subject of the action, while letting the court order separate trials to avoid delay, expense, or prejudice.
1.All persons may join in one action as plaintiffs if they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative:
a.in respect of or arising out of the same transaction or occurrence, or
b.if the claims arise out of a series of transactions or occurrences and any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action, or
c.if the claims are connected with the subject matter of the action.
2.All persons may be joined in one action as defendants if there is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative:
a.any right to relief in respect of or arising out of the same transaction or occurrence, or
b.if the claims arise out of a series of transactions or occurrences and any question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action, or
c.if the claims are connected with the subject matter of the action.
3.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.
B.ACTIONS INVOLVING PROPERTY. In actions to quiet title or actions to enforce mortgages or other liens, persons who assert an interest in the property that is the subject of the action may be joined although their interest does not arise from the same transaction or occurrence. The court may order separate trials to prevent delay or prejudice.
C.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 or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice. In determining whether to allow joinder under this section or to order separate trials, the court shall consider if in the interest of justice such action provides a fair and convenient forum for all parties.
Amendment History
Added by Laws 1984, SB 417, c. 164, §20, eff. 11/1/1984; Amended by Laws 2004, HB 2661, c.
368, §11, eff. 11/1/2004 .
Plain-English Summary
This section governs who may team up, or be grouped together, in a single lawsuit even though they aren't required to. Plaintiffs can join if their claims arise from the same transaction or occurrence, from a series of related transactions sharing a common question, or are otherwise connected to the subject of the action, and the same three tests apply to joining multiple defendants. No plaintiff or defendant has to be interested in every form of relief sought; judgment can be entered for some plaintiffs and against some defendants according to each one's actual rights and liabilities.
Subsection B carves out a property-specific rule: in actions to quiet title or enforce mortgages or other liens, people asserting an interest in the property can be joined even if their interests didn't arise from the same transaction. And whether joinder happens under the general rule or the property rule, subsection C gives the court authority to order separate trials, or otherwise manage the case, to keep one party from being unfairly delayed, burdened, or embarrassed by a co-party's unrelated claim, weighing whether joinder serves a fair and convenient forum for everyone involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can several unrelated plaintiffs sue the same defendant in one case?
Only if their claims share a connection under subsection A: arising from the same transaction, from a series of related transactions with a common question, or otherwise connected to the action's subject matter; unrelated claims don't qualify.
Does a plaintiff joining a case have to want every kind of relief the other plaintiffs are seeking?
No -- paragraph 3 of subsection A allows judgment for one or more plaintiffs according to their own rights, without requiring every joined party to seek the same relief.
Are there special joinder rules for property disputes?
Yes -- subsection B lets people asserting an interest in real property be joined in a quiet-title or lien-enforcement action even if their interests arose from different transactions.
Can the court separate a joined case into individual trials?
Yes -- subsection C lets the court order separate trials to prevent a party from being embarrassed, delayed, or burdened by a co-party's unrelated claim.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:oklahoma permissive joinder of parties12 O.S. § 2020joining multiple plaintiffs defendants oklahomaoklahoma FRCP 20 equivalent