Legal Definitions - statement of cause of action

A statement of cause of action refers to the specific section within a legal complaint (the initial document filed to start a lawsuit) where the plaintiff (the person bringing the lawsuit) formally outlines the facts and legal grounds that justify their claim against the defendant (the person being sued).

It is essentially the plaintiff's explanation to the court of "what happened," "why it was legally wrong," and "why the law entitles them to a remedy." This statement must clearly articulate all the necessary elements that, if proven true, would establish a valid legal claim under the applicable law.

Here are some examples illustrating a statement of cause of action:

• Example 1: Car Accident Negligence

  Imagine Sarah is driving her car and is hit by Mark, who was texting and ran a red light. Sarah files a lawsuit against Mark. Her statement of cause of action would detail:

  • Mark had a legal duty to drive safely and obey traffic laws.
  • Mark breached this duty by texting while driving and running a red light.
  • Mark's breach directly caused the collision.
  • As a result of the collision, Sarah suffered physical injuries, property damage to her car, and incurred medical expenses.

  This statement clearly lays out the facts that, if proven, establish Mark's negligence and Sarah's right to compensation.

• Example 2: Breach of Contract

  A small business, "Fresh Produce Co.," orders a large shipment of organic vegetables from "Farm-to-Table Suppliers" with a guaranteed delivery date. Farm-to-Table Suppliers fails to deliver the produce on time, causing Fresh Produce Co. to lose a lucrative contract with a restaurant. Fresh Produce Co. sues Farm-to-Table Suppliers. Their statement of cause of action would include:

  • A valid contract existed between Fresh Produce Co. and Farm-to-Table Suppliers for the delivery of organic vegetables by a specific date.
  • Farm-to-Table Suppliers failed to deliver the produce by the agreed-upon date, thus breaching the contract.
  • This breach directly resulted in Fresh Produce Co. losing its restaurant contract and suffering financial damages.

  This statement explains how the supplier's failure to meet contractual obligations created a legal basis for the lawsuit.

• Example 3: Defamation

  A local newspaper publishes an article falsely claiming that Dr. Emily Chen, a respected surgeon, has been performing surgeries while under the influence of alcohol. Dr. Chen's reputation is severely damaged, and her patient appointments drop significantly. She decides to sue the newspaper. Her statement of cause of action would assert:

  • The newspaper published a false statement of fact about Dr. Chen.
  • The statement was published to a third party (its readers).
  • The newspaper acted with negligence or actual malice (knowing the statement was false or with reckless disregard for the truth).
  • The false statement caused harm to Dr. Chen's professional reputation and led to financial losses.

  This statement articulates the elements required to prove defamation and demonstrates why Dr. Chen has a legal right to seek damages from the newspaper.