What does the term 'joinder' typically relate to in legal proceedings?

The term 'joinder' specifically refers to the legal procedure of combining multiple parties or claims into a single lawsuit. This allows for more efficient resolution of related legal issues and helps to avoid inconsistent judgments that could arise from separate proceedings. In practice, joinder serves to ensure that all relevant parties are included in a single case, which can streamline the judicial process and reduce the burden on the court system.

In legal contexts, this often applies to both claims (where multiple claims against the same defendant can be joined) and parties (where different plaintiffs or defendants can be brought together in one suit). The concept of joinder is fundamental in ensuring that all aspects of a dispute are addressed together, particularly when they are interrelated.