What is an Intervenor in a Legal Case?

An intervenor is a person or entity that becomes involved in a legal case or dispute, often to protect their own interests or to provide additional information or perspective. Intervenors are typically not parties to the original lawsuit, but they may be allowed to participate in the case if they can demonstrate a sufficient connection to the issues at hand.

There are several reasons why someone might seek to intervene in a legal case:

1. To protect their own interests: If someone has a direct stake in the outcome of the case, they may seek to intervene to ensure that their interests are protected. For example, a neighborhood association might intervene in a zoning dispute to advocate for the interests of local residents.
2. To provide additional information or perspective: Intervenors may have unique knowledge or expertise that could be relevant to the case. For example, an expert witness might intervene in a medical malpractice case to provide an independent assessment of the treatment provided to the plaintiff.
3. To challenge the existing parties: In some cases, intervenors may seek to challenge the positions taken by the existing parties to the lawsuit. For example, a third-party intervenor might argue that the defendant's actions were not the cause of the plaintiff's injuries, but rather the actions of another party.

Once someone has been granted permission to intervene in a legal case, they typically have the same rights and responsibilities as the original parties to the case. This means that they may be entitled to participate in court proceedings, present evidence, and argue their position to the court. However, intervenors do not have the same status as parties to the case, and they are not necessarily entitled to the same relief or remedies as the original parties.