Summary Judgment
A court ruling that decides all or part of a case without a full trial, because the facts are undisputed and the law clearly favors one side.
What It Means
Summary judgment is a way for a judge to decide a case – or part of a case – without holding a trial. A party files a motion asking the judge to rule in their favor because there is no real disagreement about what happened, and the law is clearly on their side.
Why It Matters
Summary judgment can end a lawsuit much faster and cheaper than going through a full trial. If you are a plaintiff, a successful summary judgment motion means you win without a trial. If you are a defendant, it means the case is dismissed. However, if there is a genuine factual dispute – meaning reasonable people could disagree about what happened – the judge must deny summary judgment and let the case go to trial.
Example
A landlord sues a tenant for unpaid rent. The tenant admits owing the money but says the apartment had mold. The landlord moves for summary judgment on the unpaid rent claim. The judge may grant partial summary judgment on the amount owed, while letting the mold defense go to trial.
Either side in a lawsuit may file a motion for summary judgment arguing there is no genuine dispute about the facts.