“The Skinny”

The term “summary judgment” may seem daunting. It is a legal term of art, which refers to a ruling on a case or a part of a case prior to trial. If a motion for summary judgment is granted, the case – or a portion thereof – will be dismissed and never litigated again unless the ruling is effectively appealed. It is one of the most common motions in a personal injury case, most often requested by defendants in an attempt to have the case dismissed. While many times it is difficult to have a motion for summary judgment granted, there are serious consequences in a case in which such a motion is granted.