Civil Law

Cause of Action

The set of facts that gives a person the legal right to sue another person or entity in court.

A cause of action is the bundle of essential facts that, if proved, would entitle the plaintiff to the relief claimed — without a valid cause of action, a suit is liable to be dismissed even before evidence is examined.

Identifying exactly when and where a cause of action arose is also important for determining which court has jurisdiction and whether the claim is filed within the applicable limitation period.

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