Case: Everything You Need to Know

A case describes a dispute taken to court.4 min read

A case describes a dispute taken to court. An appellate court decision published in a book of such decisions is also called a case and may be used as guidance or precedent by other courts. A person doing legal research will commonly say that he has to look up a case to see if its ruling on a point should be followed by other courts. The core legal issue in a case is sometimes referred to as the gravaman of the case.

A contested question before a court of justice; a suit or action; a cause.

What Is a Remedy?

Remedies. This is the name of an action in very general use which lies where a party sues for damages for any wrong or cause of complaint to which covenant or trespass will not lie.

What Is Included in a Case?

In its most comprehensive signification, case includes assumpsit as well as an action in form ex delicto; but when simply mentioned it is usually understood to mean an action in form ex delicto. It is a liberal action bailable at common law founded on the justice and conscience of the Tiff's case, and is in the nature of a bill in equity and the substance of a count in case is the damage assigned.

Action in a Case

An action on the case lies to recover damages for torts not committed with force actual or implied, or having been occasioned by force where the matter affected was not tangible, or where the injury was not immediate but consequential; or where the interest in the property was only in reversion. In these several cases trespass cannot be sustained. Case is also the proper remedy for a wrongful act done under legal process regularly issuing from a court of competent jurisdiction.

It will be proper to consider: 1. in what cases the action of trespass on the case lies; 2. the pleadings 3. the evidence; 4. the judgment.

Types of Injuries

This action lies for injuries; 1. to the absolute rights of persons 2. to the relative rights of persons; 3. to personal property; 4. to real property.

- 1. When the injury has been done to the absolute rights of persons by an act not immediate but consequential, as in the case of special damages arising from a public nuisance or where an incumbrance had been placed in a public street and the plaintiff passing there received an injury; or for a malicious prosecution.