Definition
An intervening act that breaks the chain of causation between the defendant's conduct and the injury. Why sometimes the defendant isn't responsible even though their negligence started the chain of events.
Example Usage
The court found that the victim's reckless decision to drive during the storm was a superseding cause.
Origin
From the legal concept of causal chains being interrupted
Fun Fact
Foreseeability determines whether an intervening act is truly 'superseding,' making it a key battleground in negligence cases.
Source: Restatement (Third) of Torts
Related Terms
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See “Superseding Cause” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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