Guedry v. Marino
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
164 F.R.D. 181 (E.D. La. 1995)
Seven deputies (plaintiffs) sued Sheriff Marino (defendant) after their commissions were not renewed, alleging First Amendment retaliation, though the specific facts varied: some claimed retaliation for enforcing the law against Marino's supporters, others for perceived lack of support in his re-election bid, others for speaking at public meetings, and one, Wilson, for pursuing a workers' compensation claim; several plaintiffs, including Wilson, also alleged racial discrimination. Marino moved to sever the plaintiffs' claims under Rule 20(a), or alternatively for separate trials under Rule 42(b).
Whether joinder of multiple plaintiffs under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 20(a) requires that every question of law and fact be common to all of them.