Legal Definitions - summary disposition

Summary disposition refers to a court's decision to resolve a case, or a significant part of a case, without the need for a full trial. This occurs when there are no genuine disputes about the important facts, and the law clearly dictates the outcome in favor of one party.

Essentially, if the judge can look at all the undisputed facts and apply the law to them to reach a conclusion, a trial becomes unnecessary. A common type of summary disposition is a summary judgment.

Here are some examples:

• Example 1: Unpaid Loan Agreement

  A bank sues a borrower for failing to repay a loan. The bank presents the signed loan agreement and records showing the borrower stopped making payments. The borrower admits signing the agreement and acknowledges not making payments, but claims they simply couldn't afford it. Since the borrower doesn't dispute the existence of the loan, the terms, or the failure to pay, there are no significant facts for a jury to decide. The court could grant a summary disposition in favor of the bank, ordering the borrower to pay the outstanding debt.

  This illustrates summary disposition because the core facts (loan existence, terms, non-payment) are undisputed. The borrower's inability to pay, while unfortunate, is not a legal defense that would change the outcome of the breach of contract claim, making a full trial unnecessary.

• Example 2: Clear-Cut Property Damage

  A homeowner sues a landscaping company after their truck clearly drove over and destroyed a newly installed sprinkler system, which was captured on security camera footage. The landscaping company's owner reviews the footage and admits their employee was at fault. The only remaining dispute is the exact cost of repairs. The homeowner could seek a summary disposition on the question of liability (who is at fault), leaving only the damages amount to be determined later, possibly through a smaller hearing or settlement.

  This illustrates summary disposition because the undisputed evidence (security footage, company admission) clearly establishes the landscaping company's liability. There's no factual dispute about who caused the damage, allowing the court to decide that aspect of the case without a trial.

• Example 3: Contract with Unambiguous Terms

  Two businesses have a contract stating that "all deliveries must be completed by 5:00 PM on Friday." One business sues the other for breach of contract, claiming a delivery was made at 7:00 PM on Friday. The defendant business admits the delivery was made at 7:00 PM but argues that "5:00 PM" was merely a suggestion. However, the contract explicitly states "must be completed by 5:00 PM." Given the clear and unambiguous language of the contract, the court could grant a summary disposition, finding that a breach occurred because there is no factual dispute about the delivery time or the contract's explicit requirement.

  This illustrates summary disposition because the plain language of the contract, combined with the undisputed fact of the late delivery, leaves no room for a reasonable factual dispute that would require a trial. The interpretation of the contract's clear terms is a matter of law for the judge to decide.