In a concert of action theory, what is the liability status of the defendants?

In the context of concert of action theory, the correct status of liability for defendants is that all defendants are jointly and severally liable. This principle applies when multiple parties are found to have acted in concert to commit a tortious act that causes harm to a plaintiff. When defendants are jointly and severally liable, this means that each defendant is individually responsible for the full amount of the plaintiff's damages, regardless of their individual share in the wrongful conduct.

This legal framework is particularly useful in tort cases where it may be difficult to determine the exact contribution of each defendant to the harm caused. The plaintiff can pursue the full recovery from any one of the defendants, who in turn may then seek contributions from the other liable parties. This ensures that the plaintiff can potentially recover damages even if one or more defendants are unable to pay.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the concert of action doctrine. Individual liability based solely on specific actions does not apply because, under concert of action, collective behavior is what leads to liability. The notion of an "innocent party" shielding other defendants from liability is not applicable in cases where concerted actions led to the harm. Lastly, identifying defendants separately for liability contradicts the essence of concert of action