What must a plaintiff demonstrate to prove specific causation?

To establish specific causation, a plaintiff must demonstrate that a particular substance or action was the actual cause of their injury. This involves proving that the substance directly led to or significantly contributed to the harm suffered. This requirement is crucial as it establishes a direct link between the defendant’s conduct and the plaintiff's injury, which is fundamental in tort law, particularly in cases involving negligence or product liability.

In specific causation, the focus is on the "but for" test—meaning that but for the presence of the substance or the defendant's actions, the injury would not have occurred. This distinguishes specific causation from general causation, which addresses whether the substance or action is capable of causing the type of injury in question generally.

Understanding specific causation is essential, as it forms the basis for liability; without demonstrating that the defendant’s conduct was the actual cause of the injury, the plaintiff’s claim would lack merit.