What is a summary judgment in civil litigation?

A summary judgment in civil litigation is a legal decision issued by a judge that states which party wins the case without going through a full trial. This type of judgment only occurs when the facts of the case are not disputed by either party, or when it is clear that there is no genuine issue of material fact. In order for the judge to make a summary judgment, the judge has to look at the evidence presented and determine if the facts presented favor one side over the other. In Washington, a motion for summary judgment must be filed by one of the parties in the case, which is then reviewed by the judge. If the judge decides that the motion should be granted, then the judge will issue a summary judgment against the other party. This means that the case can be decided without a full trial. The main purpose of a summary judgment is to save time and money for both parties and to help move cases through the court system efficiently. Summary judgments are an important part of civil litigation in Washington and can often be the quickest and best way to resolve a case.

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What is a summary judgment in civil litigation?

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