Legal Definitions - fraudulent joinder

Definition: Fraudulent joinder is the bad-faith addition of a party, usually a resident of the state, to prevent the removal of a case to federal court.

Example: A plaintiff files a lawsuit against a defendant who is a resident of the same state. The plaintiff also adds a second defendant who is not a resident of the state and has no connection to the case. The plaintiff does this to prevent the case from being removed to federal court, where the defendant may have a better chance of winning. This is an example of fraudulent joinder.

This practice is not allowed because it is an attempt to manipulate the legal system and prevent a fair trial. It is important for all parties involved in a lawsuit to have a fair and impartial trial, and fraudulent joinder undermines this principle.