A person having a claim against the plaintiff may be joined as a defendant when their claims expose the plaintiff to double or multiple liability.

A person having a claim against the plaintiff may be joined as a defendant when their claims expose the plaintiff to double or multiple liability.

• A. A person having a claim against the plaintiff may be joined as a defendant if their claims expose the plaintiff to double or multiple liability
• B. Only if the plaintiff consents
• C. Only if the defendant has no counterclaims
• D. Only in appellate courts

Answer: (A)

In North Carolina practice, you can bring in someone who has a claim against the plaintiff as a defendant when including them helps prevent the plaintiff from facing double or multiple liability for the same matter. The idea is to consolidate all related disputes arising from the same transaction or occurrence so the court can resolve who owes what in one proceeding, avoiding multiple lawsuits or inconsistent results. This option best fits that principle because it directly describes joining a person with a claim against the plaintiff when their involvement protects against duplicate liability. The other options don’t reflect that joinder principle: consent isn’t required for such joining, it’s not about counterclaims, and appellate courts aren’t involved in this joinder rule.

In North Carolina practice, you can bring in someone who has a claim against the plaintiff as a defendant when including them helps prevent the plaintiff from facing double or multiple liability for the same matter. The idea is to consolidate all related disputes arising from the same transaction or occurrence so the court can resolve who owes what in one proceeding, avoiding multiple lawsuits or inconsistent results.

This option best fits that principle because it directly describes joining a person with a claim against the plaintiff when their involvement protects against duplicate liability. The other options don’t reflect that joinder principle: consent isn’t required for such joining, it’s not about counterclaims, and appellate courts aren’t involved in this joinder rule.