Which term corresponds to the concept of a legal basis for seeking relief in court, i.e., a claim to sue?

• A. Affirmative Defense
• B. Contract
• C. Cause of Action
• D. Property Law

Answer: (C)

A cause of action is the legal basis for seeking relief in court. It refers to the facts and legal grounds that give the plaintiff the right to sue and obtain a remedy. Without a valid cause of action, a case can’t proceed. For example, breach of contract or negligence are common causes of action because they describe both what happened and why the law provides a remedy.

An affirmative defense, by contrast, is something the defendant asserts to avoid liability after a claim has been filed; it does not establish the claimant’s right to sue. A contract is an agreement that can give rise to a cause of action if breached, but the contract itself isn’t the claim to sue—the breach or violation is what creates the cause of action. Property law is the area governing rights in real and personal property, not a specific basis for suing.