Also known as: as soon as is practicable · promptly · without undue delay
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
An obligation to act promptly when measured against what is reasonable in light of the surrounding facts and practical constraints.
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Alan Ackerman filed a complaint on behalf of Avalon Pharmaceuticals but omitted his signature. Opposing counsel immediately flagged the defect. Ackerman supplied the signed version the next business day after reviewing the file and confirming no other changes were needed.
Police arrested Adrian Aguilar without a warrant for an alleged offense in the district. The prosecutor reviewed the evidence overnight and filed the probable-cause complaint the following morning before the initial appearance.
Alexandra Armstrong's firm produced a privileged memo during discovery. Upon learning of the production two days later, she immediately notified opposing counsel and requested return of the document under the applicable clawback procedure.
Judge Arthur Abrams received an administrative email from one party's counsel about a scheduling conflict. He immediately drafted a notice summarizing the communication and sent it to all counsel with an invitation to respond within three days.
Amber Alonzo received settlement proceeds in which a medical provider held an interest. She notified the provider the same day, prepared an accounting, and wired the funds within forty-eight hours after confirming the provider's entitlement.
Apollo Energy, the landlord, learned that its maintenance crew was blocking a loading dock that Adam Anderson's lease permitted him to use. After receiving Anderson's request, Apollo directed the crew to relocate its equipment the following morning.
It requires action that is prompt and reasonable under the circumstances rather than instantaneous or subject to a fixed calendar deadline.
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Courts examine the specific facts including the time needed to investigate, the complexity of the matter, and whether the party acted without unnecessary delay once the need for action became apparent.
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Yes when the surrounding facts show that immediate action was not feasible and the delay was reasonable given the need to review documents or consult with others.
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…found and the Appellate Division agrees with him, that Mr. Meinhard is entitled to an interest in the second lease, he having promptly elected to assume his share of the liabilities imposed thereby. This conclusion is based upon the proposition that under the original contract between the two men “the enterprise was a…