Severally liable

If two or more persons are severally liable, it means each person has a share of liability which is individually borne and not collectively.

For example, if a group of persons, on one hand, enters into a contract with another person, on the other hand, in which there is several liability clause and a member of the group fails to perform his portion of the contract, it is only the person who fails to perform that is liable to the other party and not all the members of the group.

For a plaintiff, a claim for damages in which defendants are made jointly and severally liable is better than either being made jointly or severally liable.