Legal Definitions - pro interesse suo

pro interesse suo

This Latin phrase translates to "according to his interest" or "to the extent of his interest." It refers to a situation where an individual or entity, who is not one of the primary parties in a legal matter, has a direct and recognized stake in the outcome. This allows them to participate in the proceedings or assert their rights specifically to protect that interest.

• Example 1: A homeowner lives next to a vacant plot of land. The owner of the vacant plot applies to the local planning commission for a permit to construct a large apartment building. The homeowner, concerned about potential impacts on their property value, increased traffic, and loss of privacy, could seek to participate in the planning commission's hearings. They would do so pro interesse suo, meaning their involvement is limited to addressing the specific ways the proposed development affects their direct interests as an adjacent property owner.

• Example 2: A small business takes out a loan from a bank, using its valuable manufacturing equipment as collateral. Later, the business gets into a legal dispute with a major supplier over an unpaid invoice. If the supplier sues the business and seeks a court order to seize and sell the business's assets to satisfy the debt, the bank could step in. The bank would assert its rights pro interesse suo to protect its lien on the equipment, ensuring that its claim as a secured creditor is recognized before any assets are sold off to pay other debts.

• Example 3: A charitable foundation establishes a trust to fund scholarships for students from a particular region. The trustee, who manages the trust's investments, makes a series of decisions that some of the foundation's board members believe are financially unsound and could jeopardize the trust's ability to provide future scholarships. Although the board members are not the direct beneficiaries of the trust, they could seek to challenge the trustee's actions pro interesse suo, acting on behalf of the foundation's interest in ensuring the trust's long-term viability and adherence to its charitable purpose.