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Civil litigation

causes of action

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 Vermont, as in other states, causes of action in civil litigation are the legal grounds on which a plaintiff bases their lawsuit to seek remedies such as monetary compensation, restitution, or injunctive relief. Common causes of action include breach of contract, where one party fails to fulfill the terms of a contract; fraud, involving intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain; breach of fiduciary duty, where a party with a duty to act in another's best interest fails to do so; and negligence, where a party's failure to exercise reasonable care causes harm. These claims can be found in Vermont's statutes, such as the Vermont Statutes Annotated, and are also derived from common law, which is law developed through court decisions over time. When filing a lawsuit, an attorney must identify the appropriate cause of action based on the specific facts of the case and the applicable law, whether it be state statutes or common law precedents.

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Civil litigation

causes of action

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Vermont State Code

Vermont State Code

Civil litigation

causes of action

Articles