Legal Definitions - short-cause trial

A short-cause trial is a legal proceeding that is expected to be completed within a relatively brief period, typically one to two days. Courts often designate cases as "short-cause" when they involve fewer witnesses, less complex legal or factual disputes, or a limited amount of evidence. This designation helps courts manage their schedules efficiently by allocating appropriate time slots for trials that do not require extensive presentation of evidence or lengthy arguments.

Here are some examples:

• Imagine a dispute between neighbors over minor property damage. One neighbor's tree fell and caused damage to the other's fence. Liability for the damage is not disputed, but the parties cannot agree on the exact cost of repairs. A court might schedule this as a short-cause trial because the legal issues are straightforward, the evidence is limited (e.g., repair estimates, photographs), and only a few witnesses (the neighbors, perhaps a contractor) would be needed. The trial would focus narrowly on determining the reasonable cost of the repairs, allowing for a quick resolution.

• Consider a small business suing a vendor for a clear breach of a simple contract. The contract stipulated the delivery of specific goods by a certain date, and the vendor failed to deliver. The vendor admits non-delivery but disputes the amount of damages the business is claiming. This case could be designated as a short-cause trial because the core facts of the contract and its breach are largely undisputed. The trial would primarily involve presenting evidence related to the financial loss suffered by the business, which can often be done efficiently without extensive testimony or complex legal arguments.

• In family law, a divorced couple might have an existing custody order, but they disagree on a very specific, minor modification, such as which parent will pay for a child's new, expensive extracurricular activity, or a slight adjustment to a holiday visitation schedule for a single year. If all other aspects of their agreement remain stable, a court might hear this as a short-cause trial. The proceedings would be limited to arguments and evidence directly pertaining to that single, narrow issue, allowing for a focused and expedited judicial decision without reopening the entire custody arrangement.