Bill > HB1114

This bill amends Mississippi law to require defendants in civil lawsuits involving multiple parties who may share responsibility for damages (known as "joint tortfeasors") to identify these other parties in their initial legal response, called an "answer." If a defendant wants to argue that someone else is also at fault, they must name that person or entity in their answer. The defendant seeking to shift blame will have the same responsibility to prove fault as a plaintiff would. If a defendant fails to name a joint tortfeasor in their answer, they will lose the right to argue that this unnamed party is at fault. Furthermore, if a defendant wants to assign fault to someone not already involved in the lawsuit, they must formally bring that person or entity into the case as a party. This change aims to ensure all potentially responsible parties are identified early in the legal process.

Justice

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1114.xml