Legal Definitions - case-in-chief

The case-in-chief refers to the primary presentation of evidence by one side in a legal trial. This is the crucial phase where a party, such as the plaintiff, prosecutor, or defendant, introduces all the evidence they believe is necessary to prove their claims or establish their defense. It typically involves calling witnesses to testify, presenting documents, photographs, or physical objects, and generally building their main argument before the opposing side presents their own primary evidence.

• Example 1 (Civil Lawsuit - Plaintiff's Case): Imagine a small business owner suing a supplier for failing to deliver crucial parts on time, causing significant financial losses. During the trial, the business owner's lawyer would present their case-in-chief by calling the owner to testify about the missed deadlines and lost profits, introducing copies of the contract and communication emails, and perhaps calling an expert witness to explain the financial impact. All this evidence is presented to convince the jury that the supplier breached the contract and owes damages.

  How this illustrates the term: This is the plaintiff's main opportunity to present all the facts and evidence that support their claim against the supplier, aiming to prove their case before the defense begins to present their side.

• Example 2 (Criminal Trial - Prosecution's Case): In a criminal trial where a person is accused of theft, the prosecutor's case-in-chief would involve calling eyewitnesses who saw the alleged theft, police officers who investigated the scene, and forensic experts who analyzed evidence like fingerprints or security footage. They would also introduce physical evidence such as the stolen item itself or surveillance videos. The goal is to present enough compelling evidence to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

  How this illustrates the term: This represents the prosecution's entire effort to build their argument for conviction, presenting all their primary evidence against the defendant before the defense has a chance to present their own evidence.

• Example 3 (Civil Lawsuit - Defendant's Case): Consider a situation where a homeowner is sued by a contractor claiming unpaid work. After the contractor presents their evidence, the homeowner's lawyer would then present their case-in-chief. This might involve calling the homeowner to testify that the work was incomplete or faulty, introducing photographs of substandard work, and perhaps calling a building inspector as an expert witness to corroborate the claims of poor workmanship. This evidence aims to show that the homeowner was justified in withholding payment.

  How this illustrates the term: Here, the defendant (the homeowner) is presenting their primary evidence and arguments to counter the contractor's claims and establish their defense, demonstrating why they should not be held liable.