What must be shown for a former employee to claim good cause for failing to timely respond to a lawsuit?

To successfully claim good cause for failing to timely respond to a lawsuit, it is essential to demonstrate good cause itself. This entails showing a legitimate reason or justification for the delay in response. Good cause might include circumstances beyond the person’s control, such as illness, incapacity, or other significant life events that hindered the ability to respond in a timely manner.

While personal hardship, legal representation, and unawareness of the lawsuit could potentially contribute to a claim, they do not inherently equate to good cause. For example, personal hardship might not be sufficient if it is not shown to have directly impacted the ability to respond. Additionally, the mere lack of legal representation does not constitute good cause unless it can be linked to the reason for failing to respond. Similarly, being unaware of the lawsuit could be a strong factor, yet it must be substantiated to fulfill the good cause requirement. Thus, emphasizing that good cause must be explicitly shown is crucial for the claim to hold validity in a legal setting.