Real party in interest. Every action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in

interest. But an executor, administrator, conservator, guardian, trustee of an express trust, or a party with whom or in whose name a contract is made for another’s benefit, or a party specially authorized by statute may sue in that person’s own name without joining the party for whose benefit the action is prosecuted. No action shall be dismissed on the ground that it is not prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest until a reasonable time has been allowed after objection for ratification of commencement of the action by, or joinder or substitution of, the real party in interest; and such ratification, joinder, or substitution shall have the same effect as if the action had been commenced in the name of the real party in interest. [Report 1943; October 31, 1997, effective January 24, 1998; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002]