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Civil procedure

directed verdict

A directed verdict is a procedure used by judges during trial to dismiss one or more claims when the party with the burden of proof (plaintiff) has failed to introduce evidence that is sufficient for a reasonable jury to find in favor of the party with the burden of proof. A directed verdict is like a summary judgment, but happens during trial rather than before trial.

In Hawaii, a directed verdict is a ruling by the court during a jury trial, typically upon a motion by the defendant, that the plaintiff has not presented sufficient evidence to allow the case to be decided by the jury. This procedure is governed by Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rule 50. A directed verdict may be requested after the plaintiff has presented their case and before the case is submitted to the jury for deliberation. If the court finds that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the plaintiff based on the evidence presented, it may grant a directed verdict, effectively ending that part of the case without it going to the jury. This is similar to a summary judgment, which is a pre-trial determination that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. However, a directed verdict occurs after the trial has begun and is based on the evidence presented during the trial.

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Civil procedure

directed verdict

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Hawaii State Code

Hawaii State Code

Civil procedure

directed verdict

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