Motion for Summary Judgment

Motion for Summary Judgment

Produces a complete MSJ filing package showing no genuine dispute of material fact and entitlement to judgment as a matter of law under FRCP 56 or state equivalent.

Prerequisites

Collect before drafting:

1. Complaint & Answer — all claims/defenses at issue
2. Discovery record — depositions, interrogatory responses, RFAs, document productions with Bates numbers
3. Jurisdiction & local rules — page limits, separate-statement requirements, briefing schedule, formatting
4. Contracts/policies — if breach or coverage claims involved
5. Expert reports — if needed for causation, damages, or standard of care

Filing Package Components

1. Caption & Notice of Motion

Include: full court name, case title (all parties per operative pleading), case number, document title ("Motion for Summary Judgment" or "Partial"), exact claims/counts sought, FRCP 56 or state rule citation, hearing date if required, and list of supporting documents.

2. Memorandum of Points and Authorities

Draft in this order:

1. Introduction (1–2 paragraphs) — parties, claims, why MSJ is warranted
2. Statement of the Case — procedural history + factual background with record citations
3. Legal Standard — cite the trilogy plus controlling circuit/state authority:
   • Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986)
   • Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242 (1986)
   • Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574 (1986)
4. Argument — per claim/defense: identify elements under governing law → map to undisputed evidence → show opponent lacks evidence for genuine dispute → address counterarguments → cite analogous MSJ grants with parentheticals
5. Conclusion — restate entitlement, request specific relief

3. Statement of Undisputed Material Facts (SUF)

Numbered paragraphs. Each fact must be a single discrete assertion, material to an element, with pinpoint citation to admissible evidence.

Citation formats:

Cross-check every fact against source documents for accuracy of quotes, dates, and figures.

4. Supporting Declarations

Each declaration must: open with personal-knowledge/competency statement; contain only direct-knowledge facts (no conclusions, speculation, or "information and belief"); authenticate exhibits by reference; close with perjury declaration for the relevant jurisdiction.

Draft for: moving party, percipient witnesses, expert witnesses (if applicable), custodian of records.

5. Proposed Order

1–2 pages: grants MSJ on specified claims/counts, states no-genuine-dispute finding, directs judgment entry or identifies remaining claims (if partial), includes signature line per local rules.

6. Signature Block & Certifications

Attorney identification (name, bar number, firm, address, phone, email), certificate of service, word-count certification (if required), meet-and-confer certification (if required).

Critical Checks

• Viewing standard: present all evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, then show judgment is still compelled
• Admissibility gate: every cited item must be trial-admissible — authenticate documents, verify personal-knowledge basis, apply hearsay rules
• Pinpoint citations: never cite depositions or documents generally; always include page, line, or Bates number
• Bluebook format: use Bluebook unless local rules specify otherwise
• Local rule compliance: verify page limits, font/margins, separate-statement format, and jurisdiction-specific MSJ procedures before finalizing
• Partial MSJ: clearly delineate which claims are addressed vs. which remain for trial
• PI element mapping: for personal injury claims, map evidence to duty, breach, causation (actual + proximate), and damages — causation and damages are the most common genuine-dispute battlegrounds