Legal Definitions - good cause

Good Cause refers to a legally sufficient and legitimate reason or justification for a particular action, inaction, or request. It implies that the reason is substantial, not arbitrary or frivolous, and often involves circumstances beyond a person's control or a compelling need. Courts, administrative bodies, or contractual agreements often require "good cause" to be shown before granting an exception, modifying a deadline, or taking a specific action.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of good cause:

• Example 1: Extending a Court Deadline

  A lawyer representing a client in a complex civil lawsuit requests an extension from the court to file a crucial response. The reason provided is that a key expert witness, whose testimony is essential for the response, suffered an unexpected medical emergency and is temporarily unable to provide their report. The court reviews this situation and determines that the medical emergency constitutes good cause for granting the extension, as it is a legitimate and unavoidable circumstance preventing the timely filing.

• Example 2: Employment Termination

  An employee is repeatedly found to be misusing company resources for personal gain, despite receiving multiple warnings and opportunities to correct their behavior. The employer decides to terminate the employee's contract. In this scenario, the employer would argue that the employee's consistent misconduct provides good cause for termination, which might affect the employee's eligibility for unemployment benefits or severance pay, depending on the jurisdiction and employment agreement.

• Example 3: Modifying a Child Custody Order

  A parent seeks to modify an existing child custody order because the other parent, who has primary custody, has developed a severe and untreated substance abuse problem that poses a direct risk to the child's safety and well-being. The requesting parent presents evidence of this issue to the court. The court would likely find that the other parent's substance abuse problem constitutes good cause for reviewing and potentially modifying the custody arrangement, as it represents a significant change in circumstances affecting the child's best interests.