Fed. R. Civ. P. 19

(a) PERSONS REQUIRED TO BE JOINED IF FEASIBLE.

(1) Required Party. A person who is subject to service of process and whose joinder will not deprive the court of subject-matter jurisdiction must be joined as a party if:

(A) in that person’s absence, the court cannot accord

complete relief among existing parties; or

(B) that person claims an interest relating to the subject

of the action and is so situated that disposing of the action

in the person’s absence may:

(i) as a practical matter impair or impede the person’s ability to protect the interest; or

(ii) leave an existing party subject to a substantial

risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations because of the interest.

(2) Joinder by Court Order. If a person has not been joined as

required, the court must order that the person be made a

party. A person who refuses to join as a plaintiff may be made

either a defendant or, in a proper case, an involuntary plaintiff.

(3) Venue. If a joined party objects to venue and the joinder

would make venue improper, the court must dismiss that

party.

(b) WHEN JOINDER IS NOT FEASIBLE. If a person who is required

to be joined if feasible cannot be joined, the court must determine

whether, in equity and good conscience, the action should proceed

among the existing parties or should be dismissed. The factors for

the court to consider include:

(1) the extent to which a judgment rendered in the person’s

absence might prejudice that person or the existing parties;

(2) the extent to which any prejudice could be lessened or

avoided by:

(A) protective provisions in the judgment;

(B) shaping the relief; or

(C) other measures;

(3) whether a judgment rendered in the person’s absence

would be adequate; and

(4) whether the plaintiff would have an adequate remedy if

the action were dismissed for nonjoinder.

(c) P LEADING THE REASONS FOR NONJOINDER. When asserting a

claim for relief, a party must state:

(1) the name, if known, of any person who is required to be

joined if feasible but is not joined; and

(2) the reasons for not joining that person.

(d) EXCEPTION FOR CLASS ACTIONS. This rule is subject to Rule

23.

30 Rule 20 FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

(As amended Feb. 28, 1966, eff. July 1, 1966; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Aug.

1, 1987; Apr. 30, 2007, eff. Dec. 1, 2007.)