Legal Definitions - prima facie evidence

Prima facie evidence refers to evidence that, on its initial appearance, is sufficient to prove a particular fact or establish a legal claim, unless it is disproven or contradicted by other evidence. It means that if no other evidence is presented to challenge it, the initial evidence is strong enough to lead to a specific conclusion or to require the opposing party to present their own evidence in response.

Here are some examples:

• Example 1: Unpaid Rent Claim

  Imagine a landlord sues a tenant for unpaid rent. The landlord presents a signed lease agreement clearly stating the monthly rent amount and a bank statement showing no payments received for the last three months. This signed lease and the bank statement serve as prima facie evidence of unpaid rent.

  How it illustrates the term: On its face, this evidence strongly suggests the tenant owes money. It is sufficient to establish the landlord's claim unless the tenant provides their own evidence to contradict it, such as proof of payment, a valid reason for non-payment, or a dispute over the lease terms.

• Example 2: Employment Discrimination

  Consider an employee who files a lawsuit alleging age discrimination after being terminated from their job. They present evidence showing they were over 50 years old, had consistently positive performance reviews throughout their tenure, and were immediately replaced by a significantly younger, less experienced individual.

  How it illustrates the term: These facts, when viewed together, could constitute prima facie evidence of age discrimination. While not conclusive proof, they are sufficient to raise an inference of discrimination, thereby requiring the employer to provide a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the termination.

• Example 3: Traffic Violation

  Suppose a police officer issues a speeding ticket after their radar gun recorded a driver traveling 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The officer's testimony about the radar reading, along with the calibrated radar gun's record, is presented in court.

  How it illustrates the term: The officer's testimony and the radar evidence provide prima facie evidence that the driver was speeding. This evidence is sufficient to prove the violation unless the driver can present their own evidence to challenge it, such as proof that the radar gun was faulty or that they were not the driver at the time.