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Simple English definitions for legal terms
good cause
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A quick definition of good cause:
Good cause is a reason that is legally acceptable. It is often used in employment termination cases where an employee claims that they were fired without a good reason. It can also refer to a burden placed on a litigant to show why a request should be granted or an action excused. A court may also prioritize a preferred cause, which is a case that needs to be tried ahead of others, or a short cause, which is a case that requires little time to try.A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A legally sufficient reason.
Example: In employment-termination cases, an employee may claim breach of the terms of an employment contract providing that discharge will be only for just cause. Just cause is a creature of contract. By operation of law, an employment contract for a definite term may not be terminated without cause before the expiration of the term, unless the contract provides otherwise.
Explanation: Good cause is a term used to describe a legally acceptable reason for taking a particular action. In the example given, an employee may only be terminated for just cause if the employment contract specifies this. This means that the employer must have a legally sufficient reason for terminating the employee, such as poor performance or misconduct. Without good cause, the termination would be considered wrongful and the employee may have grounds for legal action.