Prima Facie is a Latin term meaning “at first sight” or “on its face.” In legal proceedings, it refers to the establishment of a legally required rebuttable presumption. A Prima Facie case is one in which the evidence presented is sufficient to prove a fact or establish a claim unless disproved or rebutted by the opposing party.
Legal Context
In law, presenting a Prima Facie case means that the evidence before the court is adequate to support the allegations if no further evidence is presented by the other side. It shifts the burden of proof to the opposing party, who must then present evidence to counter the claim. If the opposing party fails to do so, the Prima Facie case will typically succeed.
Example
In a discrimination lawsuit, if an employee provides evidence that they were fired shortly after reporting illegal activities by their employer, this might establish a Prima Facie case of retaliation. The burden would then shift to the employer to provide a legitimate, non-retaliatory reason for the termination.
