Causes of action in civil litigation are specific claims provided by law that serve as the basis for parties to a lawsuit to recover money or property from each other—or to provide other legal or equitable relief, such as a court order requiring or prohibiting some act (injunctive relief). Examples of causes of action include breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence. Causes of action (also called claims) are usually located in a state or federal statute, or in court opinions (common law).
In New York, causes of action in civil litigation are the legal grounds on which a plaintiff bases their lawsuit to seek remedies such as monetary compensation, property recovery, or injunctive relief. Common causes of action include breach of contract, where a party fails to fulfill their contractual obligations; fraud, involving intentional deception for personal gain; breach of fiduciary duty, where a party violates the trust placed in them to act in another's best interest; and negligence, where a party's failure to exercise reasonable care causes harm. These claims can be grounded in New York's state statutes, such as the New York Consolidated Laws, or derived from common law, which is law developed through court decisions over time. The specific statutes or case law precedents provide the elements that must be proven for each cause of action. An attorney can help identify the applicable laws and advise on the merits of a potential claim.