Prima facie case意思

"Prima facie" is a Latin term that means "at first sight" or "on the face of it." In legal terminology, a "prima facie case" refers to the initial burden of presenting enough evidence to support a case. It does not necessarily mean that the case is proven, but rather that there is enough evidence to proceed with the case unless the other party can present evidence to refute it.

In other words, a prima facie case is the minimum level of evidence required to shift the burden of proof to the opposing party. If a plaintiff is able to establish a prima facie case, the burden of production shifts to the defendant to rebut the evidence presented by the plaintiff.

The concept of a prima facie case is used in both criminal and civil law. In criminal law, the prosecution must present a prima facie case against the defendant in order to proceed to trial. In civil law, a plaintiff must present a prima facie case in order to recover damages from the defendant.

The specific elements required to establish a prima facie case can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the type of case. For example, in a personal injury case, the plaintiff might need to show that the defendant owed them a duty of care, that the defendant breached that duty, and that the breach caused the plaintiff's injuries. If the plaintiff is able to establish these elements, they have made a prima facie case, and the burden shifts to the defendant to rebut the evidence.