prima facie case

American  

noun

Law.

1. a case in which the evidence produced is sufficient to enable a decision or verdict to be made unless the evidence is rebutted.

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Etymology

Origin of prima facie case

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prima facie case

Scott is the first example of a state appellate court holding that evidence of implicit racial bias in policing establishes a prima facie case of racial discrimination justifying the exclusion of evidence.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2023

But under the law, to pierce the attorney-client privilege, the government must prove a prima facie case and prove that communications were made to further a fraud or crime.

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2023

However bail was refused, with Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan stating she believed a prima facie case had been established.

From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2023

That constituted “a prima facie case of undisclosed earmarking,” according to the plaintiffs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2022

There is no prima facie case then for supposing that because persons crave some particular thing, or behave in some particular way, human nature is fatally constituted to crave that and act thus.

From Public Opinion by Walter Lippmann