# joint and several liability

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Joint and several liability binds multiple parties – such as a freight forwarder, carrier, and warehouse operator – each individually responsible for the full amount of a claim, regardless of who caused the underlying damage.

Joint and several liability binds multiple parties – such as a freight forwarder, carrier, and warehouse operator – each individually responsible for the full amount of a claim, regardless of who caused the underlying damage. The injured party has free choice as to which party to pursue and need not apportion fault among them. This structure is particularly common in multimodal transport and maritime shipping, where cargo passes through several hands and pinpointing the source of damage can be difficult. The party that pays out retains the right to seek contribution from the others in proportion to their respective fault. Joint and several liability differs from proportionate liability, where each party bears only its own share.

**Source:** [https://www.britannica.com/topic/joint-and-several-liability](https://www.britannica.com/topic/joint-and-several-liability)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | joint and several liability |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 116 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.britannica.com/topic/joint-and-several-liability |

---

*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/joint-and-several-liability-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/joint-and-several-liability-2)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/joint-and-several-liability-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/joint-and-several-liability-2)*

*JSON summary: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/joint-and-several-liability-2/llm-summary?lang=en](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/joint-and-several-liability-2/llm-summary?lang=en)*