When the foundation fails, all goes to the ground; as, where the cause of action fails, the action itself must of necessity fail.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) When the foundation of a cause of action is destroyed, the entire action collapses — if the underlying right or fact is eliminated, no superstructure of claims can stand upon it.

Where this applies

• A fraud lawsuit collapses when the plaintiff admits the underlying contract was never signed — without the contract, the cause of action has no foundation.
• A wrongful-termination claim fails when it is discovered that the plaintiff was never actually employed by the defendant — the entire case falls because the foundational fact is missing.
• A negligence suit is dismissed after the plaintiff's own expert admits the defendant's product did not cause the injury — when the causal foundation fails, the whole claim goes with it.