Legal Definitions - liability in solido

Definition: Liability in solido refers to the legal responsibility of one or more parties to pay the entire debt or damages owed to a creditor or plaintiff. This means that if there are multiple debtors or defendants, the creditor or plaintiff can choose to collect the entire amount from any one of them.

Example: Suppose three friends, A, B, and C, take out a loan of $10,000 from a bank. The loan agreement states that they are jointly and severally liable for the debt. If they default on the loan, the bank can choose to collect the entire amount from any one of them, such as A. A would then have the right to seek contribution from B and C for their share of the debt.

This example illustrates how liability in solido works in a joint debt situation. It allows the creditor to recover the full amount owed without having to pursue each debtor separately. However, it also means that any one debtor can be held responsible for the entire debt, which can create tension and disputes among the debtors.