predecessor in interest

pre·​de·​ces·​sor in interest

ˈpre-də-ˌse-sər-, ˈprē-

: a person who previously held the rights or interests currently held by another : a party with whom another is in privity

specifically : 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