Also known as: reasonableness · reasonably · reasonable person · reasonableness standard
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A standard of conduct or judgment that is fair, proper, or moderate under the circumstances. It measures actions or beliefs against what a prudent person would do or accept when facing similar facts.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Rachel Ramirez left her toddler unattended in a running car on a hot day while she ran an errand. The child died from heatstroke. Prosecutors charged involuntary manslaughter, arguing that Rachel's conduct grossly deviated from what a reasonable person would have done in the same situation.
Ricardo Rojas contracted to sell land to Roland Rhodes. A recorded easement for a neighboring driveway appeared in the chain of title. Roland refused to close, claiming the title was unmarketable because a reasonably prudent purchaser with full knowledge would not accept it.
Ravi Reddy filed a complaint alleging specific contract breaches but noted that some supporting documents remained in the defendant's possession. His attorney certified that the factual contentions would likely gain evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for discovery.
Rhea Reynolds sought judicial notice that a particular intersection lies within the court's district. The court granted the request after confirming the location from an official municipal map whose accuracy could not reasonably be questioned.
Ruby Rivera, a sitting judge, gave a televised interview about an ongoing criminal trial in her courtroom. The comments suggested the defendant was likely guilty. The judicial conduct commission charged that the statements might reasonably be expected to affect the trial's fairness.
Rising Sun Electronics learned its client had submitted falsified invoices in a contract dispute. Counsel immediately withdrew the documents from the tribunal and disclosed the fraud, taking reasonable remedial measures required by the rules.
Criminal negligence requires a substantially greater deviation from the conduct of a reasonable person than the level of negligence that suffices for civil liability. The deviation must create a high risk of death or serious bodily harm.
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Title is unmarketable when it is not free from reasonable doubt and a reasonably prudent purchaser with full knowledge of the facts would refuse to accept it. Recorded encumbrances or gaps in the chain of title commonly render title unmarketable.
…appointment to an office not held at the will of the President. The applicants had been much embarrassed in obtaining evidence. Reasonable information had been denied at the Department of State. Although a respectful memorial had been made to the Senate praying that their Secretary be permitted to give extracts from the…
…the mother's life in the 1861 Act. He then construed the phrase "preserving the life of the mother" broadly, that is, "in a reasonable sense," to include a serious and permanent threat to the mother's health , and instructed the jury to acquit Dr. Bourne if it found he had acted in a good-faith belief that the abortion…
…and ordered the defendants forthwith to provide substantially equal curricula and transportation and to "proceed with all reasonable
…The means employed must be such as one desirous of actually informing the absentee might reasonably
…prior to trial the moving party must show: (1) the documents are evidentiary and relevant; (2) they are not otherwise procurable reasonably
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A lawyer may certify that factual contentions will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery. The certification must be made in good faith at the time of filing.
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A fact may be judicially noticed if it can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned. Official government records and maps typically meet this test.
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A judge violates the rule by making any public statement that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome or impair the fairness of a pending or impending matter. The test focuses on the objective likelihood of influence rather than the judge's subjective intent.
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Reasonable remedial measures include, if necessary, disclosure to the tribunal. The lawyer must act promptly to correct the false evidence or statement once the fraud is known.
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