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 Mississippi, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that can be invoked during a trial when a party, typically the defendant, believes that the opposing party has not presented sufficient evidence to support their claim or defense. This motion can be made before the case is submitted to the jury. The standard for granting this motion is similar to the federal standard, where the court must find that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the non-moving party based on the evidence presented. Mississippi Rule of Civil Procedure 50 governs this type of motion in state courts, and it aligns with the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 for federal courts. If the motion is granted, the court will dismiss the claim or defense without it going to the jury for a decision.