§19.5 Purpose and Procedure

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§ 19.5PURPOSE AND PROCEDURE

The purpose of CR 19 is to ensure that parties asserting claims join all parties who have an interest in a common subject matter and to protect the existing parties from inconsistent results or multiple actions. CR 19 sets forth the mechanism for compulsory joinder of all persons having such common interests and without whom the court could not render complete relief. CR 19 limits the power of a plaintiff to determine who shall be parties in lawsuits. The rationale behind this limitation is to support three sets of interests:

(1)	the interests of the present defendant;
(2)	the interests of the potential but absent plaintiffs and defendants; and
(3)	the social interest in the orderly and expeditious administration of justice.

7 Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Mary K. Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure §1602 (3d ed. 2001 & Supp. 2013) (citing John W Reed, Compulsory Joinder of Parties in CivilActions, 55 Mich. L. Rev. 327,330 (1957); U-Haullnt'l,lnc. v. Jartran, Inc., 793F.2d 1034 (9th Cir. 1986)).

A CR 19 analysis requires three steps. Auto. United Trades Org. v. State, 175 Wn.2d 214,221,285 P.3d 52 (2012). First, the court determines whether an absent party is necessary for just adjudication. Second, if an absent...