Which statement best describes the standard for granting a motion for summary judgment in civil litigation?

Which statement best describes the standard for granting a motion for summary judgment in civil litigation?

• A. There is no genuine dispute of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
• B. The court may grant summary judgment even if there are genuine disputes that require a trial.
• C. Summary judgment requires a full trial on the merits before any ruling.
• D. A judge may grant summary judgment only after the issues have been narrowed by discovery.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is the standard for granting a summary judgment. Summary judgment is appropriate only when there is no genuine dispute about a material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In practice, this means the moving party must show that, taking the nonmoving party’s evidence as true, no reasonable jury could find in the nonmoving party’s favor on a fact that matters under the controlling law. The court looks at the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, but if any material fact is genuinely in dispute, the case must go to trial. A material fact is one that could affect the outcome of the case; if a fact is immaterial, it won’t stop summary judgment. The “as a matter of law” part means the judge can apply the law to the undisputed facts and render judgment without a trial. Discovery status isn’t a prerequisite for summary judgment; it can be granted before discovery is complete if there are no triable issues.

The key idea here is the standard for granting a summary judgment. Summary judgment is appropriate only when there is no genuine dispute about a material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In practice, this means the moving party must show that, taking the nonmoving party’s evidence as true, no reasonable jury could find in the nonmoving party’s favor on a fact that matters under the controlling law. The court looks at the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, but if any material fact is genuinely in dispute, the case must go to trial. A material fact is one that could affect the outcome of the case; if a fact is immaterial, it won’t stop summary judgment. The “as a matter of law” part means the judge can apply the law to the undisputed facts and render judgment without a trial. Discovery status isn’t a prerequisite for summary judgment; it can be granted before discovery is complete if there are no triable issues.