Ripeness

Ripeness and standing are related concepts. Both must be present for a plaintiff to bring a lawsuit. To have “standing,” the party seeking relief must have a “legally cognizable interest” and a “threatened or real injury.” Manzara v. State, 343 S.W.3d 656, 659 (Mo. 2011). Assuming standing exists, a court will not reach the merits unless the case is ripe. Schweich v. Nixon, 408 S.W.3d 769, 774 (Mo. 2013). Ripeness is determined by whether “the parties’ dispute is developed sufficiently to allow the court to make an accurate determination of the facts, to resolve a conflict that is presently existing, and to grant specific relief of a conclusive character.” Id.