What does prima facie mean in legal terms?

The term "prima facie" is a Latin phrase that translates literally to "at first appearance" or "on its face." In a legal context, it refers to evidence that is sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved by contrary evidence. This means that if one party presents prima facie evidence, it is considered adequate to support their position unless the opposing party can provide sufficient evidence to counter it.

In a legal setting, prima facie cases are foundational: they set the stage for a legal argument, establishing that there is enough initial evidence for the case to proceed further. It reflects the standard that the evidence presented can reasonably lead a judge or jury to conclude a certain fact is true unless it is rebutted.

The other options, while they may relate to legal concepts, do not capture the essence of what "prima facie" signifies. For example, referring to something as based on prior cases pertains to legal precedents but does not communicate the idea of initial sufficiency of evidence. Final judgment and dismissals relate to conclusions of legal processes rather than the initial evidentiary standard that "prima facie" represents.