Legal Definitions - Motion For Judgment As A Matter Of Law

A Motion For Judgment As A Matter Of Law is a formal request made by one party in a jury trial, asking the judge to rule in their favor immediately, without allowing the jury to deliberate. This motion argues that, based on the evidence presented so far, no reasonable jury could possibly find in favor of the opposing party because their evidence is legally insufficient to support their claims.

Essentially, the party making the motion contends that even if all the evidence presented by the other side is believed, it still doesn't meet the legal requirements to prove their case. This motion is typically made after the opposing party has finished presenting all their evidence but before the case is handed over to the jury for a verdict. It is sometimes also referred to as a "motion for a directed verdict."

Here are some examples of when a Motion For Judgment As A Matter Of Law might be made:

• Example 1: Personal Injury Lawsuit

  Imagine a plaintiff sues a construction company, claiming they suffered a severe back injury due to a poorly maintained walkway at a construction site. The plaintiff presents evidence that they fell on the walkway and subsequently experienced back pain. However, they fail to provide any medical expert testimony or doctor's reports that definitively link the fall on the walkway to their specific back injury, or that prove the walkway's condition was the direct cause of the fall. In this scenario, the construction company's attorney could make a Motion For Judgment As A Matter Of Law. They would argue that even if the jury believes the plaintiff fell, there's no legally sufficient evidence to establish that the company's negligence caused the specific injury claimed, or that the walkway was the cause of the fall. Without that crucial link, no reasonable jury could find the company liable for the back injury.

• Example 2: Breach of Contract Dispute

  Consider a small business suing a software developer for breach of contract, alleging that the developer failed to deliver a custom application as promised. The business presents emails discussing the project and some preliminary design documents. However, they are unable to produce a signed contract, any clear written agreement on the final price, or specific terms of the software's functionality. The developer's attorney could then file a Motion For Judgment As A Matter Of Law. They would assert that the business has not presented enough evidence to prove that a legally binding contract with definite terms ever existed in the first place. Since proving the existence of a valid contract is a fundamental requirement for a breach of contract claim, no reasonable jury could find that a contract was breached if its existence cannot be sufficiently proven.

• Example 3: Employment Discrimination Case

  Suppose an employee sues their former employer, alleging they were fired due to religious discrimination. The employee presents evidence that they belong to a particular religious group and were terminated, and that their manager made a single, isolated comment about their religious practices several months before the termination. However, the employee provides no further evidence linking the termination decision to their religion, such as a pattern of discriminatory behavior, other discriminatory comments, or evidence that the employer's stated reason for termination (e.g., poor performance) was a pretext. The employer's legal team could make a Motion For Judgment As A Matter Of Law. They would argue that while the employee is in a protected class and was terminated, the evidence presented is insufficient for any reasonable jury to conclude that the termination was *because of* their religion. Without evidence of discriminatory intent or a direct causal link, the legal standard for discrimination has not been met.