Which motion is used to resolve a case without going to trial?

Which motion is used to resolve a case without going to trial?

• A. Motion to Dismiss
• B. Motion to Compel Discovery
• C. Motion to Summary Judgement
• D. Motion for Continuance

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is deciding when a case can be concluded without a trial by showing there aren’t any real disputes over essential facts and the law favors one side based on the existing record. A motion for summary judgment does exactly that: it asks the court to enter judgment because, after examining the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, and other evidence, there is no genuine issue about material facts. If the court agrees, there’s no need for a trial because the outcome can be decided as a matter of law on the current record. Key to this is the standard: no genuine dispute of material fact. The moving party bears the initial burden of showing that the evidence leaves no real factual issue for trial. If that burden is met, the non-moving party must come forward with evidence showing there is at least one material fact in dispute. When the court finds no such dispute, it grants judgment for the moving party, resolving the case without a trial. This is different from a dismissal, which ends a case or claim on procedural or legal grounds (such as lack of jurisdiction or failure to state a claim), not on the sufficiency of the evidence or a legal entitlement to relief under the factual record. A motion to compel discovery pursues obtaining information, not resolving the merits of the case. A continuance merely delays a trial. So, the motion for summary judgment is the mechanism used to resolve a case without going to trial when the record shows there is no genuine fact issue and the law supports granting judgment.

The main idea here is deciding when a case can be concluded without a trial by showing there aren’t any real disputes over essential facts and the law favors one side based on the existing record. A motion for summary judgment does exactly that: it asks the court to enter judgment because, after examining the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, and other evidence, there is no genuine issue about material facts. If the court agrees, there’s no need for a trial because the outcome can be decided as a matter of law on the current record.

Key to this is the standard: no genuine dispute of material fact. The moving party bears the initial burden of showing that the evidence leaves no real factual issue for trial. If that burden is met, the non-moving party must come forward with evidence showing there is at least one material fact in dispute. When the court finds no such dispute, it grants judgment for the moving party, resolving the case without a trial.

This is different from a dismissal, which ends a case or claim on procedural or legal grounds (such as lack of jurisdiction or failure to state a claim), not on the sufficiency of the evidence or a legal entitlement to relief under the factual record. A motion to compel discovery pursues obtaining information, not resolving the merits of the case. A continuance merely delays a trial.

So, the motion for summary judgment is the mechanism used to resolve a case without going to trial when the record shows there is no genuine fact issue and the law supports granting judgment.