From Latin for at first sight, prima facie is a legal concept that is used to describe evidence that is sufficient to establish the truth of an assertion unless proven otherwise. This means that when someone presents a prima facie case, it is assumed to be valid until proved otherwise. The burden of proof then shifts to the other party to prove the assertion is false.
Examples of Prima Facie Cases
In civil suits, a prima facie case is one where a plaintiff has enough evidence to prove their case. For example, if someone were to sue a company for breach of contract, they would need to submit information that clearly shows that the agreement has been violated by the company. If that evidence is strong enough, it would be considered a prima facie case.
In criminal cases, a prima facie case is one where the prosecution has enough evidence to prove the defendant’s guilt. For example, if a person gets caught in the act of robbing a bank, the presence of the suspect, the weapon, and the stolen money is a strong prima facie case.
The Role of Prima Facie in Court
Prima facie cases are used in court to speed up the process, since judges don’t want to spend an extraordinary amount of time on cases that have already been proven. Prima facie cases also help to settle the matter sooner, since the defendant must present evidence to prove the assertion is false. Additionally, if the defendant fails to present enough convincing evidence, a prima facie case is presumed to be true. This is why it is important to present a strong prima facie case when starting a lawsuit, or defending yourself in court.