Summary judgment standards

Summary judgment is a legal decision made by a court when there is enough evidence to resolve a case without going to trial. To grant it, the judge must find that there are no genuine disputes about the important facts of the case, and the law clearly favors one side. Both parties present their evidence, and the court assesses whether a reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party. If not, the judge can decide the case in favor of one side, saving the time and expense of a full trial.