An absent class member is bound by a class judgment without appearing or participating in the litigation.

An alter ego defendant is an entity or individual treated as identical to another because corporate separateness was disregarded.

A co-defendant is one of multiple parties sued in the same action, whose interests may align or conflict.

A corporate representative is the individual designated to speak or testify for a company in litigation, at deposition or at trial.

The defendant is the party against whom a civil lawsuit is filed, required to respond to the complaint or risk default.

A guardian ad litem is appointed to represent the interests of a minor or incapacitated person in litigation.

An intervenor is a non-party who joins pending litigation to protect an interest that would otherwise be affected.

A named plaintiff is a plaintiff identified in the caption, distinguished from absent class members.

A necessary party is one whose presence is required for complete relief or to protect their own interest.

A nominal party is named in an action without having a real interest in the outcome.

The plaintiff is the party who files a civil lawsuit, bearing the burden of proving each element of the claims asserted.

The real party in interest is the person entitled to enforce the right asserted under the applicable substantive law.

A registered agent is the person designated to receive service of process on behalf of an entity.

A successor entity is one that acquired another's business and may inherit its liabilities under defined circumstances.

A third-party defendant is a party brought into an action by a defendant on a derivative liability theory.

A third-party plaintiff is a defendant who brings a claim against a new party for derivative liability.