adverse party

noun | par·ty

1. a : one (as a person, group, or entity) constituting alone or with others one of the sides of a proceeding, transaction, or agreement the parties to a contract a person who signed the instrument as a party to the instrument —Uniform Commercial Code

   — accommodated party
   : a party to an instrument for whose benefit an accommodation party signs and incurs liability on the instrument : a party for whose benefit an accommodation is made

   — accommodation party
   : a party who signs and thereby incurs liability on an instrument that is issued for value and given for the benefit of an accommodated party

   — secured party
   : a party holding a security interest in another's property

   — third party
   : a person other than the principals insurance against injury to a third party

   b : one (as an individual, firm, or corporation) that constitutes the plaintiff or defendant in an action; also : one so involved in the prosecution or defense of a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding as to be bound or substantially affected by the decision or judgment therein : one so involved in the prosecution or defense of a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding as to be bound or substantially affected by the decision or judgment therein

   — adverse party
   : a party to an action who is on the opposing side; specifically : a party to a finally decided action whose interests would be served by having the judgment upheld on appeal and who is entitled to notice of an appeal

   — aggrieved party
   : a party with a legally recognized interest that is injuriously affected especially by an act of a judicial or quasi-judicial body and that confers standing to appeal — called also aggrieved person, party aggrieved

   — indispensable party
   : a party whose rights are so connected with the claims being litigated in an action that no judgment can be rendered without affecting or impairing those rights, no complete disposition of the action can be made without the party's joinder, and whose nonjoinder will result in the dismissal of an action — compare necessary party in this entry Note: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 provides the courts with discretion in determining whether the absence of a party requires dismissal of an action, replacing an older and more rigid basis for determination. The rule states that “the court must determine whether, in equity and good conscience, the action should proceed among the existing parties or should be dismissed.”

   — innocent party
   : a party having no fault in or responsibility for the situation for which judicial relief is sought : a party who comes into court with clean hands

   — necessary party
   : a party whose interests are so connected with an action that he or she should be joined in order to fully determine the controversy but whose nonjoinder because of a valid excuse will not result in dismissal — compare indispensable party in this entry

   — nominal party
   : a party who has no actual stake in the outcome of litigation and whose inclusion as a party is solely for the purpose of conforming with procedural rules

   — party aggrieved
   : aggrieved party in this entry

   — party in interest
   : a person whose rights are or will be affected by an action taken especially by a government or judicial body; especially : a person whose pecuniary interests are affected by a bankruptcy proceeding : real party in interest in this entry

   — proper party
   : a party whose interests are likely to be affected by litigation and whose inclusion in the litigation is preferable but not essential

   — real party in interest
   : a party who according to the applicable law is entitled to enforce the right that forms the basis of the claim regardless of who will actually benefit by the outcome Note: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(a) requires that “an action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.”

   — third party
   : a person who is not a party to an action but who is or may be liable to the defendant in the action for all or part of the plaintiff's claim and against whom the defendant may bring a third-party complaint : a person who is not a party to an action but who is or may be liable to the plaintiff in the action for all or part of a counterclaim and against whom the plaintiff may bring a third-party complaint — see also third-party complaint

2. : a group of persons usually sharing a set of political ideals who are organized for the purpose of directing the policies of a government