Which phrase means 'the thing speaks for itself' in legal terms?

The phrase that means 'the thing speaks for itself' in legal terms is "res ipsa loquitur." This legal maxim is used primarily in tort law, particularly in negligence cases, to refer to situations where the evidence is sufficient to establish a presumption of negligence without the need for further proof. Essentially, it applies when the circumstances surrounding an event are so evident that they imply negligence on the part of a party, thus allowing the court to draw conclusions from the facts presented.

For example, if a patient undergoes surgery and the wrong procedure is performed, the fact that the wrong procedure happened speaks for itself, suggesting a lack of proper care or oversight by the medical provider. The principle helps plaintiffs in establishing a case by emphasizing that certain mishaps do not typically occur without negligence.

Other options relate to different legal concepts but do not convey the same meaning. "Res judicata" refers to the principle that a matter that has been adjudicated by a competent court may not be pursued further by the same parties. "Redaction" pertains to the editing of documents to remove sensitive information, and "redress" refers to the remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance. These terms serve distinct purposes within the legal framework and do not reflect the