pre·de·ces·sor in interest /'pre-də-ˌse-sər-, 'prē-/: a person who previously held the rights or interests currently held by another: a party with whom another is in privity; specif: a party in a previously related civil case who was in a similar position and dealt with similar issues and facts as a party in the current case and so had the same motive as the current party in developing testimony at trial see also former testimony at testimony
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.