Also known as: causa · causal · causality · causare · causation · causative · causator · causes · causing · caused · proximate cause · causa proxima
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The connection between conduct and resulting harm that the law recognizes as sufficient to impose responsibility on the actor.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Clifford Cox drove at excessive speed on a wet road while intoxicated. His vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian. The prosecution established that Cox's conduct caused the death under the criminal negligence standard, supporting an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Cynthia Cortez's home was searched after officers presented an affidavit detailing drug sales observed by a reliable informant. The magistrate found probable cause to believe contraband would be found and issued the warrant authorizing the seizure of specific items.
Connor Clark served interrogatories on Cassandra Cooper. Cooper responded with a general objection to one question but failed to state specific grounds until after the deadline. The court held the objection waived because Cooper showed no good cause for the delay.
Caleb Chang was arrested without a warrant. Officers promptly filed a complaint in the district of the alleged offense that recited facts establishing probable cause to believe Chang committed the crime.
Charles Cunningham sought to introduce a witness's prior statement after the witness disappeared. Evidence showed Cunningham had threatened the witness to prevent testimony. The court ruled the hearsay exception unavailable because Cunningham caused the declarant's absence.
Cedar Creek Farms sprayed pesticide intending to kill weeds on its property. The spray drifted and damaged a neighbor's crops. The court found the company acted purposely because its conscious object was to cause the result of eliminating vegetation in the treated area.
Legal cause requires that the causal sequence be one for which the law holds the actor responsible, even if but-for causation is present. The Restatement defines it as the point at which the actor's tortious conduct results in harm to a legally protected interest unless a defense applies.
Yes. A killing caused by criminal negligence constitutes involuntary manslaughter when the defendant's conduct deviates substantially from that of a reasonable person and that deviation causes the death.
A court may excuse a late objection only upon a showing of good cause. Absent that showing, any ground not stated in a timely objection is waived.
…of the United States, severally moved the court for a rule to James Madison, Secretary of State of the United States, to show cause why a mandamus should not issue commanding him to cause to be delivered to them respectively their several commissions as justices of the peace in the District of Columbia. This motion was…