Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Direct causation or connection occurring without an intermediary step or agent.
Sources & Authorities· 38 primary sources
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Cases
Statutes
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Direct Document Production
Evelyn Ellison served a Rule 34 request on Emerald Enterprises seeking native-format spreadsheets. Emerald produced the files in their original electronic form without any conversion. The court held that the production satisfied the rule because the information was obtained directly from the responding party's systems.
Direct Adversity in Representation
Edgar Evers asked his lawyer to sue Enigma Technologies while the same firm already represented that company in a separate licensing dispute. The lawyer recognized that the new suit would place the firm in direct opposition to its existing client. The firm declined the engagement to avoid the concurrent conflict.
Esme Ellington swung her arm and struck Eva Espinosa in the face during an argument. The blow caused immediate bruising and pain. Liability for battery attached because the harmful contact resulted directly from the intentional act.
Direct Federal Claim
Elliot Edmonds filed suit in federal court alleging that federal agents violated his Fourth Amendment rights during a search. No statute expressly authorized damages for the violation. The court exercised jurisdiction because the complaint asserted a right to relief directly under the Constitution.
Direct LLC Liability Shield
Emanuel Escobar contracted with Echo Systems LLC for consulting services. When the LLC failed to pay, Escobar sued the sole member personally. The court dismissed the claim because the member's status alone did not create personal liability for the company's debt.
Direct LLLP Partner Protection
Echelon Security formed as a limited liability limited partnership. A creditor sought to hold a general partner personally liable for partnership obligations incurred during that status. The court rejected the claim because the partner's role created no direct personal exposure.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
1
What does ex directo mean in legal rules that contrast direct and indirect effects?+
It means without any intervening step or agent, as opposed to effects that occur through an intermediary.
410 U.S. 113 (1973)Constitutional Law
…a right that was apparently completely unknown to the drafters of the Amendment. As early as 1821, the first state law dealing directly with abortion was enacted by the Connecticut Legislature. By the time of the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, there were at least 36 laws enacted by state or territorial…