cleared of liability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cleared of liability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts to indicate that a person or entity is no longer responsible for any obligations or debts. Example: "After the investigation, the company was cleared of liability regarding the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Chevron, the US oil giant that co-owns the site, was cleared of liability.

The Guardian - Money

Sugary tunes from the '60s will be sung by the 1910 Fruitgum Company in Astoria Park in Queens at 7 30 p.m. [Free] IN THE NEWS Former Gov. George E. Pataki was cleared of liability in a lawsuit brought by six sex offenders who claimed they were wrongly confined to psychiatric hospitals after completing prison sentences.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

One thing seems clear: Even if at the end of the process the officers involved in the shooting of Mr. Bell are cleared of all liability — criminal, civil and departmental — their careers as they knew them are likely over.

The New York Times

Uralkali had previously been cleared of any liability after an incident, in 2006, in which a mine in the Ural Mountains flooded with brine and a huge sinkhole opened in the ground.

The New Yorker

In fact, Colorlines.com obtained Orange County DA records that revealed Anaheim police officers were involved in at least 40 shootings between 2003 and early 2011, and in each case the officers involved were cleared of any criminal liability.

Huffington Post

The court cleared the Netherlands of liability in the deaths of most of the 8,000 Bosnian Muslims killed after Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic overran the town of Srebrenica on 11 July in what was to become the bloody climax to the 1992-95 Bosnian war that claimed 100,000 lives.

The Guardian

She was also cleared of accusations that she failed to list property, income and liabilities on financial disclosure forms.

The New York Times

A18 NEW YORK/REGION B1-8 Judge Overturns Verdict In 1999 Police Shooting A federal judge overturned a jury verdict that had cleared the city of liability in the 1999 police shooting of Gidone Busch, granting his family a new trial seeking damages for the fatal shooting in Brooklyn.

The New York Times

The EU Parliament has stressed the need for legislation that includes a more comprehensive science-based definition of nanomaterials, together with a clear assignment of liability to producers and employers arising from the use of nanomaterials, through all routes of exposure (such as inhalation and the skin).

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology

In addition to Mr. Pataki, the jury cleared two other defendants of liability: Glenn S. Goord, the former correctional services commissioner, and Eileen Consilvio, the former executive director of the Manhattan Psychiatric Center, where the plaintiffs were held.

The New York Times

Since legislation in the '90s that cleared cities and municipalities of liability for skating injuries, the number of skateparks has increased dramatically; still, the country's 3,000 or so skateparks aren't cutting it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cleared of liability" to formally indicate that a person or entity has been absolved of legal responsibility, particularly after an investigation or legal proceeding. This suggests a formal decision, not merely an assumption of non-responsibility.

Common error

Don't assume that being "cleared of liability" automatically implies innocence or lack of involvement. It solely means legal responsibility has not been established. The individual or entity may still have been involved, but not to the extent of legal culpability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cleared of liability" functions as a declarative statement, indicating that an entity or individual has been formally relieved of legal responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cleared of liability" is a declarative statement used in legal and formal contexts to indicate that an entity or individual is no longer responsible for any obligations or debts. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While it suggests the absence of legal responsibility, it does not necessarily equate to innocence or lack of involvement in an event. Related phrases include "exonerated from responsibility" and "found not liable", each carrying slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Found not liable

Directly states the legal outcome of not being held responsible for damages or wrongdoing.

Freed from legal responsibility

Explicitly states freedom from legal duties and obligations.

Judged not responsible

Indicates a formal judgment that one is not accountable for an action or its consequences.

Exonerated from responsibility

Emphasizes a formal release from duty or obligation, similar to being found not liable.

Deemed not culpable

A formal declaration of innocence, similar to being cleared of liability.

Absolved of culpability

Highlights the lack of guilt or blameworthiness, akin to being cleared of legal responsibility.

Acquitted of blame

Emphasizes that the subject was officially found not guilty.

Released from obligation

Focuses on the freedom from a specific duty or requirement, mirroring the release from legal duty.

Vindicated of all charges

Stresses the removal of suspicion or blame, comparable to being cleared of accusations leading to liability.

Exempted from accountability

Highlights that the subject is not subject to being held responsible.

FAQs

How is "cleared of liability" different from "not guilty"?

"Cleared of liability" means someone isn't legally responsible for damages or wrongdoing, often in civil cases. "Not guilty" is a verdict in criminal court, meaning the prosecution didn't prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. One relates to responsibility; the other to guilt.

What does it mean to be "cleared of liability" in a business context?

In business, being "cleared of liability" means the company or individual is not legally responsible for debts, damages, or other obligations. This can happen after a lawsuit, settlement, or restructuring.

What are some alternatives to "cleared of liability"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "exonerated from responsibility", "absolved of culpability", or "found not liable".

Is being "cleared of liability" the same as being insured?

No. Being insured means having a contract where an insurer agrees to cover potential losses or damages. Being "cleared of liability" means a court or other authority has determined you are not legally responsible for something, regardless of insurance coverage.