What are the differences between a motion for summary judgment and a motion for judgment on the pleadings in civil litigation?

In civil litigation, two distinct motions can be used when a party would like the court to decide the case without a trial: a motion for summary judgment and a motion for judgment on the pleadings. A motion for summary judgment is typically used when there are no disputed facts in the case. The court will review the facts of the case and documents submitted, such as affidavits and depositions, to determine if summary judgment should be granted. The court will grant the motion for summary judgment if no disputed material facts exist and one of the parties is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. A motion for judgment on the pleadings is a request for the court to make a decision based on the pleadings of the parties. This motion focuses exclusively on the pleadings, such as the complaint and answer. If the pleadings demonstrate that the plaintiff has no legal right to a favorable outcome or that the defendant has no valid defense, the court will grant a motion for judgment on the pleadings. The main difference between a motion for summary judgment and a motion for judgment on the pleadings is that a motion for summary judgment focuses on the facts of the case, while a motion for judgment on the pleadings is based solely on the pleadings. Therefore, a motion for summary judgment requires more evidence than a motion for judgment on the pleadings.

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