The plaintiff presents its case-in-chief first, followed by the defendant's. Evidence supporting affirmative defenses is presented in the defendant's case-in-chief, and rebuttal is limited to answering the opponent's evidence.
Resting concludes the case-in-chief.
Alternative Names:
Case in Chief, Main Case
Why it Matters?
Anything essential omitted from the case-in-chief generally cannot be added in rebuttal, since rebuttal is confined to answering matters raised by the opponent. That makes a checklist mapping each element to the evidence proving it worth reviewing before resting. Courts occasionally permit reopening, but the request depends on discretion and the absence of prejudice.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Can omitted evidence be added in rebuttal?
What review prevents the problem?
