Legal Definitions - judgment roll

A judgment roll is the official, compiled collection of all the essential documents that form the complete record of a court case and its final outcome. It serves as the comprehensive historical account of the legal proceedings, from the initial filing to the final judgment, and provides the foundation for any potential appeals.

Typically, a judgment roll includes:

• The initial complaint or petition that started the lawsuit.
• All responsive pleadings filed by the opposing party (e.g., answers, counterclaims).
• Key motions filed by either side and the court's rulings on those motions.
• Important court orders issued throughout the case.
• The final judgment, verdict, or decree that resolves the dispute.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of a judgment roll:

• Example 1: Business Contract Dispute

  Imagine two companies, "Tech Innovations Inc." and "Global Logistics Corp.," are involved in a lawsuit over a broken supply chain contract. Tech Innovations sues Global Logistics for breach of contract. The judgment roll for this case would contain Tech Innovations' initial complaint outlining the alleged breach, Global Logistics' formal response denying the claims, any motions filed regarding evidence or discovery, the judge's written orders throughout the trial, and ultimately, the final judgment detailing whether a breach occurred and any awarded damages. This entire collection of documents forms the official judgment roll, providing a complete record of how the dispute was legally resolved.

• Example 2: Personal Injury Claim

  Consider a scenario where a pedestrian, Ms. Chen, sues a negligent driver for injuries sustained in a car accident. The judgment roll for Ms. Chen's case would include her initial complaint detailing her injuries and the driver's alleged negligence, the driver's legal response, any motions for summary judgment, court orders related to medical examinations or expert witness testimony, and the final verdict from the jury or the judge's order approving a settlement. This compiled record is crucial for understanding the progression of the case and the basis for the final decision.

• Example 3: Real Estate Foreclosure

  Suppose a bank initiates a foreclosure lawsuit against a homeowner who has defaulted on their mortgage. The judgment roll for this foreclosure case would include the bank's initial complaint seeking to foreclose, the homeowner's answer (if they filed one), any motions to dismiss or for summary judgment, court orders setting hearing dates, and the final judgment of foreclosure that allows the bank to sell the property. This comprehensive set of documents ensures there is a clear, official record of the legal process that led to the property's sale.