Rule 3.15 Pleading More Than One Cause of Action; Alternative Pleadings

When filing paperwork with the court, you can include more than one legal claim in the same document. Each claim needs its own section, called a count, with its own heading. Each count must clearly name who is involved and state what you are asking the court to do.

You can also present your claims or defenses as alternatives. This means you can say, in effect, "If the court finds X, then I want this outcome, but if the court finds Y, I want that outcome instead." This gives you flexibility when the facts of your case could support more than one legal theory.