what is the purpose of joint and several liability 
joint and several liability is a way to reduce the risk of financial loss to one party to a contract it allows a plaintiff suing for damages to pursue full payment if necessary from the party with the deepest pockets if the others named cannot pay the bottom linein law joint and several liability makes all parties in a lawsuit responsible for damages up to the entire amount awarded that is if one party is unable to pay then the others named must pay more than their share until their joint financial obligation has been met 