When can a summary judgment motion be granted?

A summary judgment motion can be granted when there is no genuine dispute of material fact. In civil litigation, the purpose of a summary judgment is to expedite the resolution of cases by allowing a party to obtain a judgment without the need for a full trial if the evidence shows that there are no material facts that could lead a reasonable jury to find in favor of the opposing party. This means that if the evidence presented is such that even when viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is no reasonable basis to conclude that a material fact exists that would affect the outcome of the case, then summary judgment is appropriate.

The requirement for the presence of a genuine dispute of material fact is essential; if the facts are undisputed or if the disputed facts are not material to the outcome of the case, a court can rule on the legal issues alone, granting summary judgment. This process helps to reduce unnecessary trials and saves time and resources for both the courts and the parties involved.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the legal standards governing summary judgment. The concurrence of a jury on issues does not pertain to summary judgment, as this motion is decided by a judge before trial. An agreement between the parties may not address whether there is