What is a summary judgment?

• A. A court judgment entered after a full trial with a complete evidentiary record.
• B. A decision by the court that the facts are disputed and a trial is necessary.
• C. A court judgment entered when there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
• D. A temporary injunction issued to preserve status quo.

Answer: (C)

Summary judgment is a ruling that ends all or part of a case without a trial because there is no genuine dispute about any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. It rests on the record—pleadings, affidavits, depositions, and other evidence—showing that, even viewing the facts most favorable to the opponent, no factual question could lead a reasonable jury to a different verdict. The moving party has to show there’s no real dispute about the facts that matter for deciding the legal question. If there is any credible evidence that could support a different outcome, the court must deny the motion and let the case proceed to trial. This mechanism speeds up resolution when the law alone determines the result and the facts aren’t in dispute. A full trial, a finding that facts are disputed, or an injunction to preserve the status quo are not what summary judgment describes.