侵权法事实自证制度研究

On the Principle of Res Ipsa Loquitur

事实自证制度是英美侵权法中的一项特殊的证据制度和证据学说。在特定情形下 ,该制度允许法官或陪审团仅从原告提供的间接证据便推出被告存在过失并应对原告承担赔偿责任的结论。事实自证制度通常并不涉及对被告过错的推定 ,也不必然导致举证责任的倒置。我国在处理类似疑难案件方面可借鉴此种证据制度。

The principle of res ipsa loquitur is a special evidence rule or doctrine in Anglo-American tort law. Under specified circumstances, this principle allows the judge or the jury to draw from circumstantial evidence submitted by the plaintiff the conclusion that the defendant was negligent and is thus liable to the plaintiff. Res ipsa loquitur does not normally entail a presumption of the defendant's fault, nor a shift in the burden of proof. Studies of this principle will provide us a good reference for the similar cases handled in China.