The liability of multiple defendants either collectively or individually for the entire amount of damages sought by the plaintiff regardless of their relative degree of responsibility.

• A. Joint and several liability
• B. Respondeat superior
• C. Employment at will
• D. Ministerial duties

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is joint and several liability. When multiple defendants are at fault, this rule allows the plaintiff to recover the full amount of damages from any one defendant (or from several), regardless of each defendant’s individual share of fault. The idea is that the plaintiff shouldn’t be left uncompensated if some defendants are insolvent or underinsured; those who can pay may be pursued for the entire amount, and they can seek contribution from the other at-fault parties.

Respondeat superior is about holding an employer liable for an employee’s actions in the scope of employment, not about how damages are allocated among multiple defendants. Employment at will relates to an employee’s ability to terminate employment, not liability. Ministerial duties concern tasks that are straightforward and mandated, not about apportioning liability among parties.