What is a motion for judgment on the pleadings?

A motion for judgment on the pleadings is a legal argument used in civil litigation in the state of Michigan. It is a type of pre-trial motion that can be filed after all pleadings in the case have been filed but before trial begins. A motion for judgment on the pleadings asks the court to decide the case based only on the pleadings – the written statements of facts and law submitted to the court by the litigants. The court can grant the motion if, based on the pleadings alone, one of the parties has a clear legal right to prevail on their claim or defense. In effect, the motion asks the court to make a ruling on the case even before evidence is presented or witnesses questioned at trial. Motions for judgment on the pleadings are most commonly used when one party’s pleadings fail to state a claim that is supported by the law. A party can also request a judgment on the pleadings if the opposing party’s pleadings fail to provide an adequate defense to the claim. In either case, filing a motion for judgment on the pleadings can be a quicker and more cost effective way of resolving the dispute without the need for a full trial.

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What is a motion for judgment on the pleadings?

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