Legal Definitions - compulsory nonsuit

A compulsory nonsuit is a legal ruling by a judge that dismisses a plaintiff's case because the plaintiff has failed to present enough evidence to legally support their claim, even if all the evidence they *did* present is assumed to be true. It is "compulsory" because the judge orders the dismissal; the plaintiff does not voluntarily withdraw their case.

This typically occurs after the plaintiff has finished presenting their side of the case but before the defendant has had to present any defense. The judge essentially determines that, based solely on the plaintiff's evidence, no reasonable jury could find in the plaintiff's favor.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Personal Injury Claim: Imagine a plaintiff sues a driver for negligence after a car accident, claiming the driver was speeding. During the trial, the plaintiff testifies about their injuries and the accident itself. However, they present no witness testimony, no police report, no expert analysis of skid marks, and no traffic camera footage to support the claim that the driver was actually speeding or acted negligently. Even if the judge believes everything the plaintiff said about being injured, the judge might grant a compulsory nonsuit because the plaintiff has not provided sufficient evidence to establish the driver's negligence as the cause of the accident under the law.

• Breach of Contract Dispute: A small business owner sues a supplier, alleging that the supplier failed to deliver a specific quantity of goods as promised. The business owner presents emails discussing potential orders and testifies about a verbal agreement. However, they cannot produce a signed contract, a formal purchase order, or any clear written communication detailing the exact terms of the agreement, such as price, quantity, and delivery date. The judge could rule a compulsory nonsuit, concluding that the plaintiff has failed to present adequate evidence to prove that a legally binding contract with definite terms existed, let alone that it was breached.

• Defamation Lawsuit: A public figure sues a newspaper for defamation, claiming an article published about them was false and damaged their reputation. The plaintiff presents the article and testifies about the emotional distress it caused. However, they fail to introduce any evidence demonstrating that the statements in the article were factually untrue, or that the newspaper acted with "actual malice" (knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth), which is a higher standard of proof required for public figures in defamation cases. The judge might issue a compulsory nonsuit because the plaintiff has not met the legal burden of proof for key elements of a defamation claim against a public figure.