Also known as: reasonably believes · reasonably believed · reasonably believing · reasonable belief
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A standard of belief requiring that the actor subjectively holds the belief and that the circumstances known or that should be known would cause a reasonable person to hold it.
Roberto Reyes, an officer at Regal Apparel, reviewed a short memo from management recommending the purchase of a rival brand. He approved the deal without seeking further financial analysis because he believed it served the company's long-term growth. The court later assessed whether that belief aligned with what a reasonable officer in his position would conclude under the circumstances.
Judge Raphael Rivera contacted counsel for one party to reset a hearing date after a sudden medical emergency. He concluded that the brief discussion would not give either side an advantage on the merits. The rule required him to confirm that a reasonable judge would reach the same conclusion on the facts known at the time.
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Roger Ramirez learned that his client planned to use the lawyer's services to submit false loan documents. He determined that continuing the representation would assist criminal conduct. The rule permitted withdrawal once he formed that reasonable belief based on the information available to him.
Officers Regina Robinson and Rajesh Rao responded to a 911 call reporting a possible assault inside a residence. They heard cries and saw blood on the doorstep, leading them to conclude an occupant needed immediate help. The emergency aid exception allowed entry when those facts supported an objective belief that injury was imminent.
Ralph Richardson purchased rare artwork after the seller's appraiser stated it was an original. Richardson had no special expertise in the field and reasonably believed the appraiser possessed superior judgment on authenticity. The rule permitted reliance on that opinion under the stated circumstances.
Raven Logistics' security guard observed a trespasser approaching a restricted area at night while carrying an object that appeared to be a weapon. The guard concluded that the individual posed an immediate threat based on the visible circumstances. The standard required that a reasonable person in the same position would reach the same conclusion.
The standard requires both. The actor must actually hold the belief, and the known circumstances must be such that a reasonable person would hold it too.
The officer must hold a subjective belief that the action serves the corporation's best interests, and that belief must be one a reasonable officer in the same position would form after considering available information.
Withdrawal is permitted when the lawyer reasonably believes the client's course of action involving the lawyer's services is criminal or fraudulent, judged by what a reasonable lawyer would conclude from the facts known.
Officers must possess an objectively reasonable belief, based on specific facts, that an occupant is injured or imminently threatened with injury. Subjective motives do not control the analysis.
Reliance is justified when the recipient reasonably believes the person offering the opinion has special skill or objectivity compared with the recipient on the subject matter.
…to comply with the informed consent provisions "if he or she can demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence, that he or she reasonably believed that furnishing the information would have resulted in a severely adverse effect on the physical or mental health of the patient." 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3205 (1990). In this respect, the…