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term:
Cause Of Action
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cause of action
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1 : the grounds (as violation of a right) that entitle a plaintiff to bring a suit [an amended pleading reiterating a cause of action for lost profits "J. H. Friedenthal et al."]
;also
: the part of a suit brought on those grounds [removed the cause of action to the district court]
2 : right of action [the court, led by Justice Brennan, said Congress intended to provide a private cause of action "National Law Journal"]
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.