Which liability concept allows a plaintiff to collect the entire damages from any defendant regardless of each defendant's share of fault?

Which liability concept allows a plaintiff to collect the entire damages from any defendant regardless of each defendant's share of fault?

• A. Employee
• B. Independent contractor
• C. Wrongful discharge
• D. Joint and several liability

Answer: (D)

Joint and several liability lets a plaintiff recover the full amount of damages from any one defendant who is at fault, even if that defendant’s share of fault is small. This ensures the plaintiff is fully compensated despite multiple liable parties. The paying defendant can later seek contribution from the other liable parties for their respective shares. The other choices describe relationships or types of claims rather than how damages are allocated or recovered among multiple defendants; they don’t explain why a plaintiff can obtain the entire damages amount from one liable party.

Joint and several liability lets a plaintiff recover the full amount of damages from any one defendant who is at fault, even if that defendant’s share of fault is small. This ensures the plaintiff is fully compensated despite multiple liable parties. The paying defendant can later seek contribution from the other liable parties for their respective shares. The other choices describe relationships or types of claims rather than how damages are allocated or recovered among multiple defendants; they don’t explain why a plaintiff can obtain the entire damages amount from one liable party.