(a) Persons may join as plaintiffs who assert any right to relief jointly, sever- ally, separately or in the alternative, in respect of or arising out of the same trans- action, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences if any common ques- tion of law or fact affecting the rights to relief of all such persons will arise in the action.
Rule 2229.Permissive joinder.
Adopted June 7, 1940 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2229 lets persons join as plaintiffs or be joined as defendants when their claims arise out of the same transaction or occurrence and share a common question of law or fact.
Full Text of Rule 2229
(b) A plaintiff may join as defendants persons against whom the plaintiff asserts any right to relief jointly, severally, separately or in the alternative, in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transac- tions or occurrences if any common question of law or fact affecting the liabili- ties of all such persons will arise in the action.
(c) Parties may join or be joined in the alternative although the cause of action asserted by or against any one or more of them is inconsistent with the cause of action asserted by or against any of the others so joined.
(d) A plaintiff who asserts a cause of action ex contractu may join as defen- dants all or any one or more persons alleged to be liable to the plaintiff on or by reason of the breach of the contractual obligation sued upon, regardless of the capacities in which such persons are respectively liable or whether they are pri- marily or secondarily liable or whether their liabilities arise from the same or separate acts or undertakings; but where the liability of any defendant is solely joint, the plaintiff shall join all other persons jointly liable with such defendant.
(e) In an action to adjudicate title to or an interest in real or personal prop- erty
(1) persons whose claims are not adverse to each other may join as plain- tiffs;
(2) any person whose claim is adverse to that of the plaintiff may be joined as a defendant.
Plain-English Summary
Parties with connected claims may litigate together by choice. This rule lets persons join as plaintiffs who assert a right to relief arising out of the same transaction or occurrence (or series), where a common question of law or fact will arise, and lets persons be joined as defendants on the same basis. Permissive joinder promotes efficiency without requiring it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can several plaintiffs sue together in one action?
Yes, where their claims arise out of the same transaction or occurrence and share a common question of law or fact.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 2229 adopted June 7, 1940, effective February 5, 1941; amended April 18, 1975, effective immediately, 5 Pa.B. 1820; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2274. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (190596) to (190597).
Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation
of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as: permissive joinderjoin plaintiffs defendantssame transaction joinder