Dictionary of Law
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intervene :: legal definition


Intervene - v. to obtain the court's permission to enter into a lawsuit which has already started between other parties and to file a complaint stating the basis for a claim in the existing lawsuit. Such intervention will be allowed only if the party wanting to enter into the case has some right or interest in the suit and will not unduly prejudice the ability of the original parties to the lawsuit to conduct their case. Example: Little Buttercup Butter Co. has been sued by Market Bag Grocers for selling below standard butter. Better Buy Market has also been buying Buttercup's butter and wishes to intervene (join in the lawsuit) to avoid either a loss by Market Bag which would affect Better Buy's possible claim, and also to avoid two separate suits. Or another butter company might want to join the suit on Buttercup's side in order to put up a united front with Buttercup against the markets.

See also: intervention joinder multiplicity of suits and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

action :: n. a lawsuit in which one party (or parties) sues ... . See also: cause of action lawsuit
arbitration :: n. a mini-trial, which may be for a lawsuit ready ... tance of the arbitrator's decision.
claim in bankruptcy :: n. the written claim filed by persons or businesse ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
clean hands doctrine :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
deposition :: n. the taking and recording of testimony of a witn ... See also: deponent depose discovery
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hold harmless :: n. a promise to pay any costs or claims which may ... e other party agrees to cover them.
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
interpleader :: n. the procedure when two parties are involved in ... e claimants fight over it in court.
intervention :: n. the procedure under which a third party may joi ... rvene joinder multiplicity of suits
inverse condemnation :: n. the taking of property by a government agency w ... e also: condemnation eminent domain
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
malicious prosecution :: n. filing a lawsuit with the intention of creating ... vor of the victim. See also: malice
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
misjoinder :: n. the inclusion of parties (plaintiffs or defenda ... ent transactions. See also: joinder
motion for a summary judgment :: n. a written request for a judgment in the moving ... strict procedures. See also: motion
necessary party :: n. a person or entity whose interests will be affe ... o: indispensable party proper party
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
proper party :: n. a person or entity who has an interest (financi ... lf. See also: necessary party party
quiet title action :: n. a lawsuit to establish a party's title to real ... opposition. See also: notice title
real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
subrogee :: n. the person or entity that assumes the legal rig ... aid. See also: subrogation subrogor
tax costs :: n. a motion to contest a claim for court costs sub ... sts" to avoid paying these charges.
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture