In a civil suit, what can a party request if new, relevant evidence comes to light after a judgment?

In a civil suit, if new and relevant evidence emerges after a judgment has been issued, a party can file a motion to alter or amend the judgment. This motion is typically made under rules pertaining to post-judgment relief, and it allows the court to reconsider its judgment in light of the new evidence.

The rationale behind this option is that courts aim to ensure justice and may change their decisions if new, significant information is presented that could have affected the outcome of the initial ruling. By filing this motion, the party is effectively asking the court to reevaluate its previous conclusions and possibly change the judgment due to the newfound evidence.

Other options, while relevant in their specific contexts, may not provide the appropriate mechanism for addressing new evidence. For instance, requesting a retrial typically requires showing more than just new evidence; there must be substantial grounds indicating that a new trial is warranted. Similarly, appealing a judgment usually focuses on errors made during the original proceedings, rather than introducing new evidence. Filing a motion to reopen the case usually indicates a different procedural approach than amending the judgment based on new evidence. Thus, the most fitting response to the scenario presented is to file a motion to alter or amend the judgment.