Definition

Noun: A legal ruling made by a court before a full trial concludes because there is no genuine dispute about the key facts of the case, and the law clearly favors one party over the other. It is a procedural mechanism to resolve a lawsuit efficiently without needing a trial.

Usage

This term is used in legal contexts to describe a court's decision on the merits of a case without a full trial. It is typically requested by one party, arguing that the essential facts are not in dispute and that they are entitled to win based on the law.

Examples

• The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing the plaintiff's claim was filed after the statute of limitations had expired.
• The judge granted summary judgment in favor of the employer, finding no evidence of discrimination.
• A summary judgment is not appropriate if there are factual issues that a jury must decide.

Advanced Usage

• "Motion for summary judgment": The formal request a party submits to the court asking for a summary judgment.
• "Partial summary judgment": A ruling that resolves only a specific claim or issue within a larger case, while other parts proceed to trial.

Variants and Related Words

• Summary adjudication: A similar procedural device where the court decides specific issues of fact or law before trial.
• Judgment as a matter of law: A broader term that can refer to a ruling made before (summary judgment) or during a trial.

Synonyms

• Judgment on the pleadings
• Dispositive ruling

Notes on Different Meanings

This term has a precise, technical meaning in law. In non-legal, general English, the phrase is not used. One might speak of a "summary" or a "quick judgment," but these are not the compound legal term "summary judgment."

Noun

1. a judgment rendered by the court prior to a verdict because no material issue of fact exists and one party or the other is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law