Opinion ID: 204874
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: In this appeal, our review of the required elements of intervention of right under Rule 24(a) is de novo. See United States v. Tennessee, 260 F.3d 587, 591 (6th Cir.2001). Although our consideration of the timeliness of an application to intervene is ordinarily tempered by deference to the district court, we have consistently applied a de novo standard to the issue where, as here, the district court failed to make any factual findings in this regard. See Johnson v. City of Memphis, 73 Fed. Appx. 123, 131 (6th Cir.2003); Stupak-Thrall v. Glickman, 226 F.3d 467, 472 n. 5 (6th Cir.2000). Intervention of right is governed by Rule 24(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Under the Rule, the court must permit anyone to intervene who ... claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action, and is so situated that disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant's ability to protect its interest, unless existing parties adequately represent that interest. Fed. R.Civ.P. 24(a)(2). This Court has interpreted the language of the Rule to require an applicant to show that: 1) the application was timely filed; 2) the applicant possesses a substantial legal interest in the case; 3) the applicant's ability to protect its interest will be impaired without intervention; and 4) the existing parties will not adequately represent the applicant's interest. Grutter v. Bollinger, 188 F.3d 394, 397-98 (6th Cir. 1999). Each of these elements is mandatory, and therefore failure to satisfy any one of the elements will defeat intervention under the Rule. See United States v. Michigan, 424 F.3d 438, 443 (6th Cir.2005) (citing Grubbs v. Norris, 870 F.2d 343, 345 (6th Cir.1989)).