Opinion ID: 1749609
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: intervention of waitt and miller

Text: Appellants first assign that the district court erred in sustaining Intervenors' motion to intervene. The statutory right to intervention is governed by Neb.Rev. Stat. § 25-328 (Cum. Supp. 2004), which provides: Any person who has or claims an interest in the matter in litigation, in the success of either of the parties to an action, or against both, in any action pending or to be brought in any of the courts of the State of Nebraska, may become a party to an action between any other persons or corporations, either by joining the plaintiff in claiming what is sought by the complaint, or by uniting with the defendants in resisting the claim of the plaintiff, or by demanding anything adversely to both the plaintiff and defendant, either before or after issue has been joined in the action, and before the trial commences. Appellants argue that intervention is inappropriate because (1) the Board adequately represents the interests of Intervenors; (2) Intervenors have failed to allege facts sufficient to show a direct and legal interest affected by the appeal before the district court; (3) Intervenors intervened at the intermediate appellate level, rather than prior to trial as required by § 25-328; and (4) Intervenors failed to appear in opposition to Lamar's appeal before the Board. A review of the record shows that Intervenors offered no evidence at the hearing before the district court. While counsel for Intervenors did present oral argument to the district court at that hearing, such argument was essentially a reiteration of the Board's argument. Moreover, in its brief before this court, the arguments made by Intervenors are the same as those made by the Board. We conclude that, even assuming the district court erred in allowing Intervenors leave to intervene at the intermediate appellate level, Appellants were not prejudiced by that error. Error without prejudice provides no ground for appellate relief. In re Applications T-851 & T-852, 268 Neb. 620, 686 N.W.2d 360 (2004). Accordingly, we need not address Appellants' arguments with respect to intervention.