Legal Definitions - excusable

Definition: Excusable (adjective) refers to an illegal act or omission that is not punishable under specific circumstances.

Example:Excusable neglect is a term used in legal proceedings to describe a situation where a person fails to do something they were supposed to do, but the failure was not their fault. For example, if a person misses a court date because they were in the hospital, their absence may be considered excusable neglect.

Explanation: The example illustrates the definition of excusable because it shows that even though the person missed their court date, they had a valid reason for doing so. Their absence was not intentional or due to negligence, but rather due to circumstances beyond their control. Therefore, their failure to appear in court is excusable and not punishable.

Another example: If a person accidentally breaks a window while playing ball, but they were not aware that the ball could break the window, their action may be considered excusable.

Explanation: This example shows that the person did not intend to break the window and did not know that their actions could cause damage. Therefore, their act of breaking the window is excusable and not punishable.