joint enterprise

joint enterprise n. a generic term for an activity of two or more people, usually (but not necessarily) for profit, which may include partnership, joint venture, or any business in which more than one person invests, works, has equal management control and/or is otherwise involved for an agreed upon goal or purpose. One significant factor is that if a court finds that two or more people are involved in a joint enterprise and there is negligent damage to another by any one of the enterprisers, or breach of a contract made by the joint enterprise, each of those who are part of the enterprise will be liable for all the damages to another. However, not all joint enterprises are partnerships or joint ventures, although the terms are often used improperly as if they were synonymous. (See: joint, joint and several, joint liability, joint venture, partnership, joint adventure)