Third-Party Standing

Standing is an antecedent to the right to relief. Comm. for Educ. Equal. v. State, 878 S.W.2d 446, 450 n3 (Mo. 1994). To have standing, a plaintiff must demonstrate a “legally cognizable interest” and a “threatened or real injury.” Manzara v. State, 343 S.W.3d 656, 659 (Mo. 2011). Standing is a “necessary component of a justiciable case” that must be present prior to adjudication on the merits. Schweich v. Nixon, 408 S.W.3d 769, 774 (Mo. 2013).

In certain circumstances, a third-party can have standing. To possess third-party standing, a litigant must be able to show three things: (1) a concrete injury, (2) a close relation to the third party, and (3) some hindrance to the third party’s ability to protect its own interests. State v. Knese, 985 S.W.2d 759, 775 (Mo. 1999).