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Simple English definitions for legal terms
reasonable cause
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A quick definition of reasonable cause:
Reasonable cause is a term used in law to describe a situation where there is a good reason to believe that someone has committed a crime or that a place contains evidence related to a crime. This belief must be based on facts and cannot be just a suspicion. In order to obtain an arrest or search warrant, there must be probable cause, which is a higher standard than reasonable suspicion. Probable cause means that the facts are strong enough to make a reasonable person believe that a crime has been committed or that evidence can be found in a certain place. In other areas of law, such as torts, reasonable cause refers to a belief in the existence of facts that support a legal claim.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Reasonable cause is a legal term that refers to a situation where there is a reasonable ground to suspect that a person has committed or is committing a crime or that a place contains specific items connected with a crime. It is a standard that must be met before an arrest warrant or search warrant may be issued.
Example: If a police officer sees someone breaking into a car, they have reasonable cause to suspect that the person is committing a crime. They can then arrest the person and search them for any stolen items.
Explanation: In this example, the police officer has observed a crime taking place, which gives them reasonable cause to suspect that the person is committing a crime. This justifies their actions in arresting the person and searching them for any stolen items.
Example: In a civil lawsuit, a person must have reasonable cause to believe that they have a valid legal claim before they can file a lawsuit.
Explanation: In this example, reasonable cause refers to a person's belief that they have a valid legal claim. This belief must be based on reasonable grounds, such as evidence or legal precedent, before they can file a lawsuit.