Ex rel.
Ex relatione. Latin, "on the relation of." A phrase showing that the plaintiff is suing based on information from another person. In the case caption, the party named after "ex rel." is the party on whose information the suit is brought. Many government lawsuits based on whistleblowers' information are brought as suits ex rel.
See Relator.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
Abbreviation for Latin ex relatione, meaning "upon being related" or, more loosely, "on behalf of." The phrase is typically used in the title of a legal proceeding filed by the government, to indicate the name of an interested private party who pushed for the instigation of the suit. For example, a case caption might read: The State of Tennessee ex rel. Archie Johnson v. Hardy Products. Such suits usually happen when the private party's interests happen to coincide with those of the government or the public.
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:15 pm
