a summary judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a summary judgment" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to a court's decision on a case without going to a full trial, often based on the evidence presented in documents. Example: "The judge issued a summary judgment in favor of the defendant, concluding that there were no material facts in dispute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Each side hopes for a summary judgment against the other.

The New York Times - Arts

The studios had sought a summary judgment to end the legal proceedings.

The New York Times

It sued to invalidate Microsoft's trademark on Windows in October and asked for a summary judgment.

The New York Times

She granted DC's motion for a summary judgment and dismissed the case on Tuesday.

The New York Times

He said he hoped for a summary judgment on the damages before the season is canceled.

The New York Times - Sports

Hollinger International Inc. won a summary judgment yesterday against its former chief executive, Conrad M. Black, from a Delaware court.

The New York Times

Then she expressed a summary judgment: "The only thing I absolutely must have is a hair dryer.

The New York Times - Style

Instead, they are generally required to issue a summary judgment, in essence an automatic win for the bank.

The New York Times

The judge in the above-captioned case, by the way, refused to throw out the case with a summary judgment, since it's winter.

The New York Times

Judge Ira Gammerman of New York State Supreme Court dismissed the suit, granting a summary judgment to N. S. Bienstock, the company that represents Ms. Zahn.

The New York Times

In January, Judge Coughenour is expected to decide on Lindows.com's motion for a summary judgment -- a ruling from the bench -- that the Windows trademark should be revoked.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a summary judgment" when you want to emphasize that a court made a decision on a case based on undisputed facts and applicable law, without holding a full trial.

Common error

Avoid using "a summary judgment" interchangeably with terms like "dismissal" or "settlement". "A summary judgment" is a specific ruling by a court, whereas a dismissal can occur for various reasons, and a settlement is an agreement between the parties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a summary judgment" functions as a noun phrase within legal contexts. It identifies a specific type of court ruling made without a full trial. Ludwig's AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in legal and news reporting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a summary judgment" is a grammatically sound and widely used term, particularly in legal and news contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequency. It refers to a court's decision made without a full trial, based on the evidence at hand. When using this phrase, ensure you're accurately describing a legal ruling and avoid confusing it with similar terms like "dismissal". Consider alternatives such as "judgment as a matter of law" or "pretrial dismissal" depending on the specific context. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

judgment as a matter of law

This alternative is more formal and explicitly emphasizes the legal basis for the judgment.

court's ruling on the merits

Focuses on the court's decision based on the substantive issues of the case.

pretrial dismissal

Highlights the fact that the case is being dismissed before a full trial occurs.

accelerated judgment

Emphasizes the speed and efficiency of the judgment process.

disposition without trial

General term for resolving a case without a trial.

judicial determination

Broadly refers to any determination made by a judge, emphasizing the authority behind the decision.

motion granted

Specifies the procedural aspect of granting a motion for summary judgment.

case dismissed summarily

Highlights the speed and finality of the dismissal.

preclusive judgment

This alternative is specific to judgments that prevent relitigation of issues.

final disposition

Refers to the ultimate resolution of the case.

FAQs

What is "a summary judgment" in legal terms?

In legal terms, "a summary judgment" is a decision made by a court based on the pleadings and evidence presented, determining that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. It's essentially a ruling made without a full trial.

When is "a summary judgment" typically granted?

"A summary judgment" is typically granted when the court determines that there are no genuine disputes of material fact and that one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. This often occurs when the evidence is so one-sided that one party must prevail without a trial.

What's the difference between "a summary judgment" and a dismissal?

While both "a summary judgment" and a dismissal result in a case being terminated, they differ in their basis. "A summary judgment" is granted after considering evidence and determining that no factual disputes exist, whereas a dismissal can occur for procedural reasons, lack of jurisdiction, or failure to state a claim.

What are some alternatives to "a summary judgment"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "judgment as a matter of law", "pretrial dismissal", or "motion granted" to describe a similar legal outcome.