In tort cases in Ohio, what does "joint and several liability" mean?

In tort cases in Ohio, "joint and several liability" refers to a legal principle where all defendants can be held responsible for the entire amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff, regardless of their individual share of fault. This means that if one defendant is unable to pay their portion of the damages, the plaintiff can seek the full amount from any of the other defendants who are liable.

This system allows for a more efficient recovery for the injured party, ensuring they do not bear the burden of a defendant's financial inability to pay. The underlying rationale is that each defendant contributes to the harm suffered by the plaintiff, and thus all are collectively responsible for making the plaintiff whole.

In contrast, options that suggest liability only for specific actions, equal sharing of liability, or limiting liability to a primary defendant do not accurately capture the essence of joint and several liability, which emphasizes the potential for full liability across multiple parties regardless of their individual blameworthiness.