Alaska

Civil Procedure

Civil Procedure

Rule 19 – Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication

(a)Persons to Be Joined if Feasible. A person who is subject to service of process and whose joinder will not deprive the court of jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action shall be joined as a party in the action if (1) in the person’s absence complete relief cannot be accorded among those already parties, or (2) the person claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that the disposition of the action in the person’s absence may (i) as a practical matter impair or impede the person’s ability to protect that interest or (ii) leave any of the persons already parties subject to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reason of the claimed interest. If the person has not been joined, the court shall order that the person be made a party. If the person should join as a plaintiff but refuses to do so, the person may be made a defendant, or, in a proper case, an involuntary plaintiff. If the joined party objects to venue and joinder of that party would render the venue of the action improper, that party shall be dismissed from the action.
(b)Determination by Court Whenever Joinder Not Feasible. If a person as described in subsection (a)(1) – (2) hereof cannot be made a party, the court shall determine whether in equity and good conscience the action should proceed among the parties before it, or should be dismissed, the absent person being thus regarded as indispensable. The factors to be considered by the court include: first, to what extent a judgment rendered in the person’s absence might be prejudicial to the person or those already parties; second, the extent to which, by protective provisions in the judgment, by the shaping of relief, or other measures, the prejudice can be lessened or avoided; third, whether a judgment rendered in the person’s absence will be adequate; fourth, whether the plaintiff will have an adequate remedy if the action is dismissed for nonjoinder.
(c)Pleading Reasons for Nonjoinder. A pleading asserting a claim for relief shall state the names, if known to the pleader, of any persons as described in subdivision (a) (1) – (2) hereof who are not joined, and the reasons why they are not joined.
(d)Exception of Class Actions. This rule is subject to the provisions of Rule 23.

Alaska R. Civ. P. 19

Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; rescinded and promulgated by SCO 258 effective November 15, 1976; amended by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994

AS 10.06.015(a)(1), as enacted by ch. 166, § 1, SLA 1988, amended Civil Rule 19 by making parties to a contract covered by AS 10.06.015(a)(1), indispensable parties to an action under AS 10.06.015(a)(1). AS 10.06.378(c) as enacted by ch. 166, § 1, SLA 1988, amended Civil Rule 19 by allowing a shareholder sued under the section to join certain parties in a lawsuit against the shareholder without using the criteria of Civil Rule 19. AS 10.06.463, as enacted by ch. 166, § 1, SLA 1988, amended Civil Rule 19 by requiring that a corporation be made a party to an action to remove a director of the corporation. AS 10.06.580(b), as enacted by ch. 166, § 1, SLA 1988, amended Civil Rule 19 by making qualified dissenting shareholders indispensable parties to an action covered by AS 10.06.580.