Legal Definitions - improper cumulation of actions

Improper cumulation of actions refers to the practice of joining inconsistent causes of action in one legal proceeding. This was allowed under the common-law pleading system, but is now permitted under most modern pleading systems.

An example of improper cumulation of actions would be a plaintiff suing a defendant for both breach of contract and personal injury in the same lawsuit. These two causes of action are inconsistent and should be brought in separate proceedings.

Another example would be a plaintiff suing a defendant for both defamation and breach of contract in the same lawsuit. These two causes of action are also inconsistent and should be brought in separate proceedings.

These examples illustrate how improper cumulation of actions can lead to confusion and unfairness in legal proceedings. It is important to separate causes of action that are not related to each other in order to ensure a fair and just outcome.