NALA Certified Paralegal Practice Exam

_____ exists when the connection between an act and an injury is strong enough to justify imposing liability as a matter of public policy.

1. Proximate cause

2. Cause in fact

3. "But for" cause

4. Duty

The correct answer is: Proximate cause

Proximate cause is the correct choice because this legal term describes the concept of legal causation, or the link between an act and an injury that is strong enough to hold someone responsible for that injury. This means that there must be a direct and immediate connection between the act and the injury for it to be considered proximate cause. This concept is necessary in order to determine who is legally responsible for the harm caused by a certain action. It is different from cause in fact, which refers to the actual physical cause of an injury, and "but for" cause, which asks whether the injury would not have occurred if the act had not taken place. Duty, on the other hand, is a separate legal principle that outlines a person's responsibility or obligation to behave in a certain way towards others. While duty is an important consideration in determining liability, it is not the same as proximate cause.