Legal Definitions - long cause

In California state courts, long cause is a term used to describe a trial or hearing that is expected to take a significant amount of time to complete. The precise duration that qualifies a matter as "long cause" can vary depending on the specific court, the type of legal proceeding, and local rules.

Generally, a "long cause" designation applies when a case is anticipated to exceed a predefined shorter duration, such as a few hours or a single court day. This classification is important because it often dictates how and when the trial or hearing will be scheduled on the court's calendar, sometimes requiring special scheduling or placement on a dedicated calendar.

• Example 1: Complex Business Litigation

  Imagine a lawsuit between two large corporations concerning a breach of contract involving millions of dollars and numerous intricate financial transactions. The attorneys for both sides estimate that presenting all evidence, including expert witness testimony from accountants and industry specialists, and cross-examining witnesses will require at least two full weeks. Because this trial is expected to last significantly longer than a typical one-day hearing, it would be designated as a long cause trial. This designation would prompt the court to schedule it on a specialized calendar, potentially assigning it to a judge for the entire duration, rather than fitting it into a standard daily docket.

• Example 2: Contested Child Custody Dispute

  Consider a family law case where divorcing parents are in a bitter dispute over child custody and visitation, with allegations of parental alienation and requests for psychological evaluations. The court determines that hearing all testimony from the parents, children's therapists, and a court-appointed evaluator, along with reviewing extensive documentation, will likely take more than a single court day. This extended hearing would be classified as a long cause hearing. As a result, the court would set aside multiple consecutive days or specific longer blocks of time to ensure the matter can be heard thoroughly without interruption, rather than attempting to resolve it in a standard half-day or full-day session.

• Example 3: Probate Will Contest

  Suppose a deceased person's will is being challenged by several family members who allege that the will was created under undue influence, or that the deceased lacked the mental capacity to make a valid will. Resolving this dispute would involve testimony from medical professionals, family members, and potentially handwriting experts, as well as a review of extensive medical records and financial documents. If the attorneys estimate that presenting all this evidence and argument will take more than a standard 15-minute or 30-minute probate calendar hearing, it would be deemed a long cause matter. The court would then schedule it for a dedicated, longer hearing slot, ensuring adequate time to address the complex legal and factual issues involved in challenging the will's validity.