Just cause is a subjective legal concept used to determine if an action was justifiable. It is commonly used in employment termination and landlord-tenant relationships. Unfair dismissal can lead to wrongful termination lawsuits. Just cause can also be used to alter legal proceedings, such as extending the statute of limitations.
Just cause is a legal concept that can be applied in many different ways. In essence, a good cause is the determination by a decision-making body that a person or organization had justifiable reasons for a particular action. To some extent, just cause is a subjective concept that may be based on the opinion of a judge, jury, or other decision-making body, rather than an exact legal definition.
One of the most common situations for the argumentation of a just cause concerns the termination of the employment relationship. In most jurisdictions, an employer cannot simply fire an employee without cause. Instead, it must be verified that there is a relevant and reasonable justification for the dismissal of a worker. Unfair dismissal is a frequent reason for wrongful termination lawsuits.
Ensuring that managers and other personnel with the right to terminate employees follow a just cause verification process can help protect a company from wrongful termination lawsuits. While the exact reasons that constitute just cause for termination may vary, some common examples include poor performance, excessive vacation or absence, or an economic downturn that has required layoffs. Reasons for dismissal that might be considered unjustified and without cause could include racial or sexual discrimination, reporting wrongdoing, or uncovering personal issues that don’t affect job performance.
Landlord-tenant relationships can also involve issues where a good cause is at issue. A landlord, for example, has a justified reason to request a credit check or personal information from prospective tenants, while a neighbor might not. In situations where eviction is threatened or anticipated, most jurisdictions also require that the landlord has good reason to serve an eviction notice. Reasonable reasons for evicting a tenant could include non-payment of rent or the tenant committing a crime on the property. Unjustified reasons could include wanting to rent the unit to a friend or relative after the lease has already been signed.
In some cases, courts may alter normal proceedings if just cause can be demonstrated. When a statute of limitations expires for filing a lawsuit, for example, a judge might choose to allow a case if the plaintiff has a very good reason not to meet the deadline. Statute of limitations extensions are sometimes tied to cause of discovery, meaning that the plaintiff only discovered the offense after the statute of limitations had passed. Another reason for an extension could be the inability to pursue legal action due to a military assignment abroad or due to a serious illness.
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