Opinion ID: 2027324
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the arbitrator's motion to intervene.

Text: The arbitrator sought to intervene in the union's action against the MBTA as a matter of right, pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 24 (a), 365 Mass. 769 (1974), and alternatively, based on the motion judge's discretion, pursuant to Mass. R. Civ. P. 24 (b), 365 Mass. 769 (1974). The judge denied the motion on both grounds and the arbitrator appealed. While the denial of a motion to intervene by right, along with the denial of an accompanying request for permissive intervention, may be appealed immediately, Attorney Gen. v. Brockton Agricultural Soc'y, 390 Mass. 431, 433 (1983), Mayflower Dev. Corp. v. Dennis, 11 Mass. App. Ct. 630, 634-635 (1981), we need not reach the merits of the arbitrator's appeal. The basis of the arbitrator's motion to intervene is G.L.c. 161A, § 19G. In relevant part G.L.c. 161A, § 19G, inserted by St. 1978, c. 405, § 2, provides that [a]ny determination by the arbitrator ... shall be binding upon the parties ... and may be enforced at the insistence of either party or by the arbitrator in the superior court. The arbitrator contends that he has special position under this statute as a guardian of the public interest and therefore should be allowed to intervene. Even if the judge should have allowed him to intervene in the proceedings, either by right or by discretion, we conclude the arbitrator was not prejudiced by the denial of his motion. The interests of the union and the arbitrator, as evidenced by the pleadings, are virtually identical, and the arbitrator made no allegation or showing that the union's advocacy of those interests was inadequate. In addition, the judge had before him the arbitrator's sixty-two page opinion explaining the award. Finally, the arbitrator was allowed to file an amicus curiae brief before this court addressing the merits of the union's enforcement action against the MBTA. We therefore dismiss the arbitrator's appeal.