404 U.S. 528 (1972) Cited 892 times 1 Legal Analyses
Holding that a union member's interest was not adequately represented by the Secretary of Labor because the Secretary had a "duty to serve two distinct interests, which are related, but not identical:" that of the individual union member and that of the general public
Holding that interest of police officers in having equal access to a promotion system was sufficient to justify intervention as of right by officers' associations and unions to contest entry of a consent decree in an employment discrimination case against the City of Houston requiring a series of remedial promotions for members of certain minority groups
Holding that the court had jurisdiction to review the denial of permissive intervention where the plaintiffs requested intervention based on right and permission
Holding delay of years, the passing away of elderly potential plaintiffs, and a loss of efficiency were not obstacles sufficient to impede or impair intervenors' ability to protect their interests
Affirming the denial of a postal union to intervene in litigation in a constitutional challenge to a statute because the union and the existing defendants had the same goal of upholding the constitutionality of the law
Holding that "[f]undamental fairness, as well as the orderly administration of justice requires that defendants haled into court not remain indefinitely uncertain as to the bedrock litigation fact of the number of individuals or parties to whom they may ultimately be held liable for money damages" and that Rule 23(c) "foster the interests of judicial efficiency, as well as the interests of the parties, by encouraging courts to proceed to the merits of a controversy as soon as practicable"