What is a motion for summary judgment in civil litigation?

A motion for summary judgment is a legal action which is taken in civil litigation in South Carolina. This motion is a request made by one of the litigants (or their legal representatives) to the court asking that the court make a ruling in favor of their case without the need for a full trial. The basis of such a motion is usually a claim that the court can determine the outcome of the case based on the information that has already been provided (i.e. the pleadings and any related documents). In order for the court to grant a motion for summary judgment, there must be no genuine dispute as to any material fact. In other words, both sides must agree that the evidence in the case is not in dispute, and the trial would just be a waste of time and resources. The court will then review the evidence and apply the law to make a ruling on the case without a full trial. If summary judgment is granted, it is important to note that it can only be granted on the specific issues of the case that are presented in the motion. So, even if summary judgment is granted, the court may still need to have a trial on the remaining issues. In any event, a motion for summary judgment in civil litigation is an important tool that can be used by the parties to get an efficient and speedy result in a case.

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