Dictionary of Law
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res ipsa loquitur :: legal definition


Res ipsa loquitur - (rayz ip-sah loh-quit-her) n. Latin for "the thing speaks for itself," a doctrine of law that one is presumed to be negligent if he/she/it had exclusive control of whatever caused the injury even though there is no specific evidence of an act of negligence, and without negligence the accident would not have happened. Examples: a) a load of bricks on the roof of a building being constructed by Highrise Construction Co. falls and injures Paul Pedestrian below, and Highrise is liable for Pedestrian's injury even though no one saw the load fall. b) While under anesthetic, Isabel Patient's nerve in her arm is damaged although it was not part of the surgical procedure, and she is unaware of which of a dozen medical people in the room caused the damage. Under res ipsa loquitur all those connected with the operation are liable for negligence. Lawyers often shorten the doctrine to "res ips," and find it a handy shorthand for a complex doctrine.

See also: negligence and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

attractive nuisance doctrine :: n. a legal doctrine which makes a person negligent ... ch make negligence harder to prove.
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comparative negligence :: n. a rule of law applied in accident cases to dete ... utory negligence damages negligence
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
direct and proximate cause :: n. the immediate reason damage was caused by an ac ... so: cause complaint proximate cause
Good Samaritan rule :: n. from a Biblical story, if a volunteer comes to ... a lawsuit for millions of dollars.
injury :: n. any harm done to a person by the acts or omissi ... nction injunctive relief negligence
intervening cause :: n. an event which occurs between the original impr ... cause negligence superseding cause
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
proximate cause :: n. a happening which results in an event, particul ... also: intervening cause negligence
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
strict liability :: n. automatic responsibility (without having to pro ... bility negligence res ipsa loquitur
suffering :: n. the pain, hurt, inconvenience, embarrassment an ... njury negligence pain and suffering
vicarious liability :: n. sometimes called "imputed liability," attachmen ... r or policeman. See also: liability

Popular Law Searches

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Other Law Terms - R

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racketeering :: n. the federal crime of conspiring to organize to ... ("organized crime" or "the Mafia").
ransom :: 1) n. money paid to a kidnapper in demand for the ... ive. See also: abduction kidnapping
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
ratable :: adj. taxable according to value, such as an estate ... lue, such as an estate or property.
ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal
ratify :: v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even th ... ligation. See also: agent principal
rational basis :: n. a test of constitutionality of a statute, askin ... imate and constitutional objective.
ready, willing and able :: adj. fully prepared to act, as in performing a con ... o act, as in performing a contract.
real estate :: n. land, improvements and buildings thereon, inclu ... the future. See also: real property
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real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
realty :: n. a short form of "real estate." See also: real e ... real estate." See also: real estate
reasonable :: adj., adv. in law, just, rational, appropriate, or ... ost of other actions or activities.
reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
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