Legal Definitions - material issue

In legal terms, a material issue refers to a point of fact or law that is so significant and relevant that its resolution could directly influence the outcome of a case or legal decision. It is not a minor detail, but a crucial question or dispute that, if answered one way, could lead to one result, and if answered another way, could lead to a different, often opposite, result.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Contract Dispute: Imagine a software development company that hired a freelance programmer to build a specific module. The contract stated that the programmer would deliver the module by a certain date, and that "time was of the essence" due to the client's upcoming product launch. The programmer delivered the module two weeks late, causing the company to miss its launch deadline and incur significant penalties.

  The material issue here is whether the "time is of the essence" clause was a fundamental term of the contract that the programmer understood and agreed to. If the court finds that this clause was indeed a critical and agreed-upon term, then the late delivery constitutes a material breach, likely leading to the programmer being liable for damages. If, however, the court finds the clause was ambiguous or not properly communicated as essential, the late delivery might be considered a minor breach, or not a breach at all, significantly altering the outcome of the dispute.

• Personal Injury Claim: Consider a situation where a pedestrian is struck by a car while crossing the street. The pedestrian sues the driver for negligence, claiming the driver was speeding and distracted. The driver, however, claims they were driving within the speed limit and that the pedestrian suddenly darted into the street without looking.

  A material issue in this case would be whether the driver was using a mobile phone at the exact moment of impact. If evidence (like phone records or witness testimony) proves the driver was texting or talking on the phone, it strongly supports the claim of driver distraction and negligence, making the driver more likely to be found liable. Conversely, if there is no such evidence, and the driver can prove they were attentive, the focus might shift to the pedestrian's actions, potentially reducing or eliminating the driver's liability.

• Employment Discrimination Lawsuit: An employee files a lawsuit against their former employer, alleging they were fired due to their age. The employer maintains that the termination was solely based on the employee's documented poor performance and a company-wide restructuring.

  A material issue would be whether the employer had a consistent history of documenting performance issues for this employee and whether other employees of different ages with similar performance problems were treated the same way. If the employer can produce clear, consistent, and objective performance reviews and disciplinary actions that predate the termination decision, it significantly strengthens their defense. However, if there's a lack of such documentation, or if younger employees with similar performance issues were retained or given opportunities for improvement, it would lend significant weight to the employee's age discrimination claim, directly impacting the lawsuit's outcome.