Legal Definitions - sac

The term "sac" is an abbreviation for Statement of Claim.

A Statement of Claim is a formal legal document filed by a plaintiff (the party initiating a lawsuit) with a court. It marks the beginning of a civil lawsuit and serves to inform the court and the defendant (the party being sued) about the plaintiff's case. This document typically outlines:

• The factual background of the dispute.
• The legal basis for the plaintiff's claim (e.g., negligence, breach of contract).
• The specific harm or damages suffered by the plaintiff.
• The remedies or relief the plaintiff is seeking from the court (e.g., monetary compensation, an order for specific action).

It is essentially the plaintiff's official written account of what happened, why they believe the defendant is responsible, and what they want the court to do about it.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a Statement of Claim:

• Example 1: Personal Injury Lawsuit

  Imagine a situation where a cyclist is injured after being struck by a car whose driver allegedly ran a red light. The cyclist decides to sue the driver for their injuries. The cyclist's lawyer would prepare and file a Statement of Claim with the court. This document would detail the date, time, and location of the accident, describe how the driver's alleged negligence (running the red light) caused the collision, list the specific injuries sustained by the cyclist (e.g., broken bones, concussion), and specify the financial compensation sought for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

  This illustrates the term because the Statement of Claim formally initiates the lawsuit, clearly setting out the facts of the accident, the legal grounds for the claim (negligence), and the damages requested by the injured cyclist.

• Example 2: Breach of Contract Dispute

  Consider a small business that contracted with a software development company to create a custom e-commerce platform by a specific deadline. The software company failed to deliver the platform on time, causing the small business to lose significant revenue during a crucial sales period. The small business decides to sue for damages. Their legal team would file a Statement of Claim outlining the terms of the original contract, how the software company breached those terms by missing the deadline, the financial losses incurred by the small business due to this delay, and the amount of compensation sought.

  This demonstrates the term as the Statement of Claim formally presents the small business's case to the court, detailing the contractual agreement, the alleged breach, and the financial remedies sought as a direct result of that breach.

• Example 3: Property Damage Claim

  Suppose a homeowner discovers that a neighboring construction project has caused significant cracks in their foundation and walls due to improper excavation. The homeowner's attempts to resolve the issue directly with the construction company have failed. To pursue legal action, the homeowner's attorney would file a Statement of Claim. This document would describe the homeowner's property, the nature of the construction work next door, the specific damage observed, the expert opinions confirming the link between the construction and the damage, and the request for compensation to cover repair costs and any diminution in property value.

  Here, the Statement of Claim serves as the official document that formally notifies the court and the construction company of the homeowner's claim, detailing the damage, the alleged cause, and the specific relief (monetary compensation for repairs) being sought.