summary judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

"summary judgment" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a judgement rendered by a court without a full trial where one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact. For example, "The defendant was denied summary judgment as there was evidence of material disputes between the parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Getting it by the summary judgment stage".

The New York Times

It gets an unconditional summary judgment.

The New York Times - Food

But he, like Strata, defied any easy summary judgment.

The New York Times - Arts

(The case was dismissed in 1995 on summary judgment).

The New York Times

Each side hopes for a summary judgment against the other.

The New York Times - Arts

"Summary Judgment" has no great depth or resonance.

The New York Times - Books

This should have been dismissed on summary judgment easily".

The New Yorker

Instead, the players are seeking summary judgment for monetary damages.

The New York Times - Sports

It is an aggressive telegraph of summary judgment.

The New York Times

The case, filed in 1995, was dismissed on summary judgment in December 1997.

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "summary judgment", ensure that you're referring to a legal decision made by a court when there are no genuine disputes of material fact. It's a procedural mechanism, not a comment on the merits of the case.

Common error

Avoid using "summary judgment" loosely to describe your own quick assessment of a situation. It has a specific legal meaning, not just a general sense of quick decision-making.

Linguistic Context

Summary judgment functions as a noun phrase, specifically a legal term. It identifies a procedural mechanism in law where a court makes a final decision without a full trial. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correctly used to describe a specific legal event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "summary judgment" is a well-established legal term used to describe a court's decision to resolve a case without a full trial, based on the determination that there are no genuine disputes of material fact. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, which is primarily found in news, legal, and formal contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to understand its specific legal meaning and avoid using it loosely. Alternative phrases, such as "judgment as a matter of law" or "dismissal before trial", can be used to convey similar concepts, but it is key to retain focus on the particular technical and legal meaning of "summary judgment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

judgment as a matter of law

This phrase emphasizes the legal basis for the decision, focusing on the absence of factual disputes.

decision without factual dispute

Highlights the absence of contested facts as the basis for the judgment.

final determination without trial

Focuses on the conclusiveness of the judgment reached outside of a trial setting.

court's ruling without trial

This highlights the procedural aspect, emphasizing the absence of a full trial.

case resolved before trial

This phrase suggests that the legal matter was settled before a trial was necessary.

dismissal before trial

Focuses on the case being terminated before reaching the trial stage.

motion for summary disposition granted

This refers to the procedural step of a party's request being accepted.

judgment on the pleadings

This refers to a judgment based solely on the submitted documents.

pre-trial dismissal

Emphasizes the timing of the dismissal, occurring before the trial begins.

preclusive judgment

Emphasizes the finality and binding nature of the decision.

FAQs

What does "summary judgment" mean in legal terms?

"Summary judgment" is a ruling by a court that no trial is necessary because there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

How is "summary judgment" different from a trial?

A trial involves presenting evidence and arguments to a judge or jury. A "summary judgment", on the other hand, occurs when the court determines that there are no factual issues requiring a trial and that one party is entitled to judgment based on the law.

When might a court grant a motion for "summary judgment"?

A court will grant a motion for "summary judgment" if the moving party demonstrates that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

What happens if a motion for "summary judgment" is denied?

If a motion for "summary judgment" is denied, the case will typically proceed to trial or other resolution, as the court has determined that there are factual issues that need to be resolved.