Post Hoc Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Post Hoc.

Post Hoc (Latin phrase - adverb)

In legal terms, "Post Hoc" typically refers to a mistaken assumption that just because one event followed another, the first event caused the second. It's derived from the full Latin phrase "post hoc ergo propter hoc", meaning "after this, therefore because of this". It's often used to point out a flaw in a legal argument's logic. This is an incorrect way of thinking because it doesn't take into account other factors that could have caused the second event.