Legal Definitions - good cause shown

The legal term good cause shown refers to a legally sufficient and compelling reason presented to a court or administrative body to justify a particular request or departure from standard procedure. It means that a party has provided a valid, credible, and persuasive explanation for why an exception, extension, or specific action should be granted. The reason must be more than mere inconvenience; it must demonstrate a legitimate and justifiable basis for the request, often involving circumstances beyond the party's control.

• Example 1: Requesting an Extension for a Legal Filing

  Imagine a lawyer representing a client in a complex civil lawsuit. The deadline to file a critical legal brief is approaching, but the lead attorney assigned to the case suffers a sudden, serious medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization. No other attorney in the firm has sufficient familiarity with the intricate details of the case to complete the brief by the original deadline. The lawyer files a motion with the court requesting an extension.

  This situation demonstrates good cause shown because the medical emergency is an unforeseen and significant event entirely beyond the lawyer's control that directly impacts their ability to meet the deadline. It is not a matter of poor planning or simple oversight, but a legitimate and unavoidable impediment.

• Example 2: Rescheduling a Court Appearance

  Consider an individual who has a mandatory court appearance scheduled for a traffic violation. However, on the exact same date and time, they receive a subpoena to testify as a crucial witness in an unrelated criminal trial in a different courthouse, making it physically impossible to attend both. The individual contacts the court to request a rescheduling of their traffic court date.

  This scenario illustrates good cause shown because the individual is facing a conflict with another legal obligation that is equally, if not more, pressing. It is not a personal preference or minor scheduling conflict, but a direct clash of legal duties that justifies the request for a new date.

• Example 3: Seeking an Exception to an Administrative Deadline

  A small business owner is working diligently to submit an application for a government grant by the specified deadline. A week before the deadline, the business's office building is severely damaged by a natural disaster, such as a flood, destroying critical documents and rendering their premises inaccessible for several days. This makes it impossible to compile the extensive application materials in time. The business owner contacts the grant agency to request an extension.

  This is an instance of good cause shown because the natural disaster is an extraordinary event, entirely outside the business owner's control, that directly prevented them from meeting the administrative deadline. It provides a compelling and justifiable reason for an exception to the standard rules.