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Civil procedure

judgment as a matter of law

A motion for judgment as a matter of law is a procedure during trial in which a party who does not have the burden of proof on a claim (generally the defendant) or on a defense to a claim (generally the plaintiff) may ask the court to dismiss the claim or defense before the jury is allowed to decide it. The standard for dismissing such a claim or defense is whether no reasonable jury could find for the opposing party on the claim or defense. In the federal court system, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.

In Arizona, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be used during a jury trial when a party believes there is insufficient evidence for the opposing party's claim or defense to warrant a jury decision. This motion is typically filed by the defendant in response to the plaintiff's claim, or by the plaintiff in response to the defendant's defense. The Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure govern the use of such motions in state court, while Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 applies in federal court cases. The standard for granting a motion for judgment as a matter of law in Arizona is similar to the federal standard; the court must find that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party based on the evidence presented. If the court agrees that the evidence is insufficient, it may dismiss the claim or defense without sending it to the jury for deliberation.

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Civil procedure

judgment as a matter of law

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Arizona State Code

Arizona State Code

Civil procedure

judgment as a matter of law

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