Legal Definitions - meritorious defense

A meritorious defense refers to a legal argument or position presented by a party in a lawsuit that has a genuine and substantial basis in law and fact. It is not frivolous, baseless, or intended merely to delay legal proceedings. Instead, it offers a legitimate reason why the opposing party's claim should not succeed, and it has a reasonable chance of being proven true in court.

Here are some examples illustrating a meritorious defense:

• Contract Dispute: Imagine a small business owner is sued for breach of contract because they failed to deliver a custom-ordered product by the agreed-upon date. The business owner presents evidence that the delay was caused by a sudden, unforeseen, and severe supply chain disruption that affected the entire industry, making it impossible to acquire a critical component for the product. Furthermore, the contract included a "force majeure" clause, which excuses performance under such extraordinary circumstances, and the owner promptly notified the client. This constitutes a meritorious defense because it relies on a specific, valid clause within the contract and verifiable external events, providing a legitimate legal reason for the delay rather than simply denying responsibility.

• Personal Injury Claim: A person sues a homeowner after slipping and falling on their icy driveway, claiming negligence. The homeowner, however, presents photographs taken shortly after the incident showing that they had placed clear "Caution: Icy Surface" signs, had salted the driveway thoroughly a few hours prior, and that the person was wearing inappropriate footwear (high heels) for the weather conditions. This is a meritorious defense because it provides factual evidence of the homeowner's reasonable care and suggests potential contributory negligence on the part of the person who fell, offering a valid counter-argument to the claim of sole responsibility.

• Debt Collection Lawsuit: A person receives a lawsuit from a credit card company demanding payment for an outstanding balance. The person, however, has bank statements and transaction records proving that they had already paid the full amount of the alleged debt several months prior, or that the charges were fraudulent and were reported to the bank, which then issued a credit. This is a meritorious defense because it directly challenges the core claim of an unpaid debt with verifiable financial documentation, demonstrating a legitimate reason why the lawsuit should not succeed.