What does 'intervention' mean in the context of civil litigation?

In the context of civil litigation, 'intervention' refers to a procedure that permits a third party to join ongoing litigation to protect their interests. This is crucial because it allows individuals or entities who have a significant stake in the outcome of the case, but are not originally named parties, to participate in the proceedings. By intervening, these parties can ensure that their rights and obligations are taken into account, which might otherwise be overlooked if they were to remain outside the litigation.

Intervention can be either as of right, meaning the third party has a legal right to intervene based on their interests, or permissive, where the court allows the intervention at its discretion. This procedural aspect helps to ensure that all relevant interests are represented in the court, facilitating a more comprehensive resolution to the dispute.

The other options present alternative legal processes but do not accurately characterize intervention's purpose or function within civil litigation. For instance, options regarding withdrawal from a case or negotiating settlements relate to different procedural concepts that do not address the joining of third parties in litigation directly. Thus, understanding intervention's role helps clarify how third parties can protect their interests effectively within the judicial process.