Motion For A Summary Judgment Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Motion For A Summary Judgment, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Motion For A Summary Judgment?

History and Definition of Motion for a Summary Judgment

A motion for a summary judgment is a legal process where one party asks a judge to rule on a case based on the facts presented in the pleadings and without a trial. It is typically filed by the defendant or the plaintiff, and the party filing the motion argues that there are no disputes of material fact in the case, and the legal issues can be decided without a trial.

In other words, a summary judgment motion is a way for a party to ask the court to decide a case before trial. It is often used in civil cases, such as personal injury lawsuits or contract disputes, where the evidence is clear and the law is straightforward.

Examples of Motion for a Summary Judgment

Here are some examples of how the concept of a motion for a summary judgment might be used in different contexts:

• In a dispute between two businesses over a contract, the defendant may file a motion for summary judgment arguing that the plaintiff cannot prove that the contract was breached.
• In a personal injury lawsuit where the plaintiff alleges that the defendant's negligence caused their injury, the defendant may file a motion for summary judgment arguing that the plaintiff cannot prove the elements of negligence.
• In a case involving allegations of discrimination by an employer, the employer may file a motion for summary judgment arguing that the plaintiff cannot show that discrimination occurred.

Legal Terms Similar to Motion for a Summary Judgment

Here are some related legal terms that have similar meanings or are often used in conjunction with a motion for a summary judgment:

• Pleadings: Legal documents filed by the parties in a lawsuit that set out the facts and legal arguments of the case.
• Material facts: Facts that are relevant to the legal issues in the case and could affect the outcome.
• Summary adjudication: A process similar to summary judgment but used in some states where a judge rules on part of a case without deciding the entire case.