Legal Definitions - person aggrieved

Person Aggrieved

A "person aggrieved" refers to an individual or entity whose legal rights, interests, or property have been directly and negatively affected by a decision, action, or failure to act by another party, often a government agency or a court. This direct impact gives them a legal basis, known as "standing," to challenge the decision or action in a court or administrative proceeding.

Here are some examples:

• Example 1: Zoning Decision

  A homeowner applies for a permit to build a small accessory dwelling unit on their property, fully complying with all local zoning ordinances. However, the local planning commission unexpectedly denies their application without a clear, legally sound reason.

  How this illustrates the term: The homeowner is a "person aggrieved" because the planning commission's decision directly and negatively impacts their property rights and their ability to use their land as permitted by law. They have a legal basis to appeal this denial.

• Example 2: Environmental Permit

  A state environmental agency grants a permit for a new industrial facility to discharge treated wastewater into a river that flows through a nearby town. Residents of the town are concerned that even treated wastewater could negatively affect the river's ecosystem, their recreational use of the river, and potentially their drinking water source downstream.

  How this illustrates the term: The residents, individually or as a group, could be considered "persons aggrieved" because the agency's decision to issue the permit directly impacts their environmental interests, health, and quality of life tied to the river. They may have standing to challenge the permit in court.

• Example 3: Government Contract Dispute

  A small technology company submits a bid for a lucrative government contract. Despite having the lowest bid and meeting all specified requirements, the contract is awarded to a larger competitor that allegedly did not meet all the technical specifications outlined in the request for proposals.

  How this illustrates the term: The small technology company is a "person aggrieved" because the government agency's decision to award the contract to another party, potentially in violation of procurement rules, directly harms their business interests and financial opportunity. They would have standing to protest the contract award.