This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Here's a plain English summary of this rule:
If you're filing a claim in court and there's someone who should probably be part of the lawsuit but isn't, you need to say so. Specifically, you have to name that person (if you know who they are) and explain why they're not included as a party to the case.
This rule connects to another rule that lists reasons someone might need to be part of a lawsuit, like if the court can't fully resolve the issue without them, or if leaving them out could hurt their interests or create problems for people already involved in the case. If someone fits that description but you're not including them, you can't just leave the court guessing why.
This matters because it keeps things honest and transparent. Courts want to know upfront if there are missing parties who might need to be brought into the case later. By requiring you to explain the gap, the rule helps prevent surprises down the road and gives the court a chance to decide whether that missing person really does need to be added before the case moves forward.
