Res Ipsa Loquitur

Learn about the definition for this legal term.

What is Res Ipsa Loquitur?

Latin for "the thing speaks for itself." In tort law, a principle that allows plaintiffs to meet their burden of proof with what is, in effect, circumstantial evidence. The plaintiff can create a rebuttable presumption of negligence by the defendant by proving that the harm would not ordinarily have occurred without negligence, that the object that caused the harm was under the defendant’s control, and that there are no other plausible explanations.

Related Torts Terms

Pass the Bar, Guaranteed

BarPrepHero Premium offers the most complete collection of real bar exam questions licensed directly from NCBE (the organization that writes the exam).
July 2023 Bar Exam starts in:
Days
Hrs
Mins
Secs
Study better now