Contract Glossary
Cause of Action
Definition
A cause of action is your legal reason for suing someone. It's the specific claim you bring, breach of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment, and each one has its own elements you have to prove.
In Practice
Your web developer disappears halfway through a $25,000 project after you've paid $15,000 upfront. You might have multiple causes of action: breach of contract (they didn't deliver), unjust enrichment (they kept money for work they didn't do), and possibly fraud (if they never intended to finish). Each cause of action gives you a different angle of attack in court, and some might get you more money than others.
Common in these contract types
Related contract clauses
Frequently asked questions
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