Legal Definitions - reinstate

Reinstate refers to the act of restoring something or someone to a former state, position, or condition. It means to put something back into effect or to return an individual to a previous status they held.

• Example 1: Employment

  After an employee was terminated from their job, they filed a grievance, arguing their dismissal was unfair. An independent arbitrator reviewed the case and ruled in the employee's favor, ordering the company to reinstate them.

  This illustrates "reinstate" because the company is required to return the employee to their previous job, with all the associated responsibilities, benefits, and seniority, effectively undoing the termination.

• Example 2: Insurance Policy

  A homeowner forgot to pay their monthly insurance premium, causing their policy to lapse. After realizing the error, they quickly paid the overdue amount, and the insurance company agreed to reinstate the policy.

  In this context, "reinstate" means the insurance policy is brought back into active status, providing coverage again, often as if there had been no lapse, ensuring the homeowner is protected against future claims.

• Example 3: Professional License

  A certified public accountant (CPA) had their professional license temporarily suspended due to a failure to complete required continuing education credits. Once they completed the necessary courses and paid the associated fees, the state licensing board decided to reinstate their license.

  Here, "reinstate" signifies that the CPA's license is restored to its active and valid status, allowing them to legally practice their profession once more.