How is "superceding cause" defined in negligence cases in Ohio?

A "superceding cause" in negligence cases refers to a new event that intervenes and breaks the chain of causation established by a defendant's original negligent act. When a superceding cause occurs, it can relieve the defendant of liability for the harm claimed by the plaintiff, as the new event is deemed to be the proximate cause of the injury, rather than the defendant’s original negligent act.

In practical terms, this means that if a subsequent event happens that was not foreseeable and significantly alters the situation leading to the injury, then that event can be seen as the primary cause of the damage. This concept is crucial in determining liability, as it delineates between what can be attributed to the initial negligence and what is the result of another, intervening factor.

Understanding the nature of superceding causes helps in analyzing negligence cases and clarifies cases where an original negligent act might not directly lead to the injury due to later unforeseen circumstances.