joint and several liability - an obligation entered into by two or more persons, where each of those persons is liable severally and all are liable jointly. In the event of default, a creditor may at his option sue one or more severally, or all jointly.
The protection of third parties requires widespread publicity; whereas the members of a grouping have unlimited joint and several liability for the grouping's debts and other liabilities, including those relating to tax or social security, without, however, that principle's affecting the freedom to exclude or restrict the liability of one or more of its members in respect of a particular debt or other liability by means of a specific contract between the grouping and a third party.
