How can a party be added or removed from a lawsuit?

A party can be added or removed from a lawsuit in Washington by a motion filed in court. A motion is a legal document that outlines the reason the party should be added or removed, and is submitted to the court for a decision. If a party wishes to be added to a lawsuit, they can file a motion to “intervene”. Intervening allows a third party to join a lawsuit as a party, which can include additional parties to the dispute. The party must show that they have an interest in the case, and that allowing the third party to join the lawsuit will not cause unnecessary delay or complication. If either the plaintiff or defendant wishes to remove a party from the lawsuit, they may file a motion to “dismiss”. Dismissal is a legal action that removes a party from a claim or lawsuit. The party filing the motion must show that the other is not an “indispensable” or necessary party, or that the removal of the party will not prejudice the remaining parties. Furthermore, a motion to “substitute” a party may be filed to replace a party with another who has the same interest in the lawsuit. In other words, if one party is no longer able to continue the lawsuit, another may stand in its place. In all of these situations, the court will have final say on whether the motion is approved, and will decide the outcome of the case based on the evidence presented.

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How can a party be added or removed from a lawsuit?

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