What is the definition of summary judgment?

Summary judgment is defined as a quick court decision without a full trial. This legal concept allows a court to resolve a case or a portion of a case when there are no genuine disputes of material fact that require a trial to resolve. It streamlines the judicial process by enabling the court to decide based on the evidence presented in documents such as affidavits, depositions, and pleadings, rather than proceeding to a lengthy trial.

In essence, summary judgment is utilized when the party seeking it believes that, even when considering all the evidence in the light most favorable to the opposing party, there is no legitimate reason for a case to proceed to trial. This process can save time and resources for both the court and the parties involved, as it eliminates the need for a full courtroom trial when the facts are clear and undisputed.