summary-judgment-motion

# 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:

| Type | Format |
|------|--------|
| Deposition | [Name] Dep. [page]:[line]–[line] |
| Interrogatory | [Party] Resp. to Interrog. No. [#], at [page] |
| Document | [Description], [Bates range] or Ex. [letter] |
| RFA | [Party] Resp. to RFA No. [#] |
| Declaration | [Name] Decl. ¶ [#] |

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