Art. 463.  Cumulation, plural plaintiffs or defendants

Two or more parties may be joined in the same suit, either as plaintiffs or as defendants, if:

(1)  There is a community of interest between the parties joined;

(2)  Each of the actions cumulated is within the jurisdiction of the court and is brought in the proper venue; and

(3)  All of the actions cumulated are mutually consistent and employ the same form of procedure.

Except as otherwise provided in Article 3657, inconsistent or mutually exclusive actions may be cumulated in the same suit if pleaded in the alternative.