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Glossary

Summary judgment

A ruling that decides a case, or part of it, without a trial because the important facts are not genuinely disputed and one side is entitled to win under the law.

Last reviewed By the Editorial team 2 min read

General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

Quick answer

Summary judgment is a ruling by a judge that decides a lawsuit, or part of it, without a trial. Under the federal rule, the court grants it when the side asking shows there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. State courts have similar rules.

In a car accident claim#

Either side can ask for summary judgment, usually after Discovery. The stage of a lawsuit in which each side must share documents and answer questions under oath. Glossary, when both sides have exchanged documents and taken depositions. It is a way to skip a trial on questions the evidence already answers.

A defendant might ask for it if the lawsuit was filed after the Statute of limitations. The law that sets the last day to file a lawsuit. After it passes, a court will usually dismiss the case, however strong it is. Glossary ran out, or if the injured person has no evidence for a required part of the claim, such as proof that the crash caused the injury. An injured person might ask for it on fault alone, for example when the other driver admits running a red light, leaving only the amount of damages for trial. Summary judgment can also be partial, deciding some issues and leaving the rest.

If the facts are genuinely disputed, for example two drivers each say they had the green light, the motion is usually denied and those questions go to trial. The guide to filing a lawsuit shows where motions fit in a case, and how long a claim takes explains the timeline.

Example#

Questions people ask

Does summary judgment end the case?

It can. If the judge grants summary judgment on the whole case, it ends, subject to any appeal. A partial ruling settles only the issues it covers.

Is summary judgment the same as a default judgment?

No. A default judgment is entered when a defendant fails to respond to the lawsuit. Summary judgment is decided on the evidence after both sides have taken part.

Sources

  1. Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Summary judgment — meaning and standard
  2. Cornell LII, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 56 — motion for summary judgment or partial summary judgment
  3. United States Courts, Glossary of legal terms — a decision made on the record without a trial

Last reviewed October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team. Found an error? Tell us.

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