term:

Excusable Neglect

excusable neglect n

: the failure of a party to follow a required procedure in a timely fashion that results from a circumstance (as an accident) which is considered by the court to be sufficient reason to excuse that party compare unavoidable casualty NOTE: Excusable neglect allows a party to seek relief from a default judgment, to file late, or to be granted a deadline extension.

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.