It is much more difficult for plaintiffs to win this type of summary judgment. Rather than knocking out a single element to doom a cause of action, like a defendant, every element of each claim as to which the plaintiff wishes to achieve summary judgment must be proven by admissible evidence.
A motion for judgment on the pleadings under FRCP 12(c) is designed to dispose of cases before trial where the material facts are not in dispute and a judgment on the merits can be rendered by looking to the substance of the pleadings and any judicially noticed facts.
This type of motion is typically made when the outcome of the case depends on the court's interpretation of the law. Example: In a lawsuit involving a breach of contract, the defendant may file a motion for judgment on the pleadings if they believe that the plaintiff has failed to state a valid claim.
Apply the relevant law to the undisputed facts. Explain why the facts and the law support granting summary judgment in your favor. Use case law – preferably recent – to bolster your argument. Cite previous cases with similar facts where summary judgment was granted.
A motion for judgment on the pleadings will occur before the trial and, unlike a motion for summary judgment, does not concern any matters other than what is contained within the pleadings.
In a motion for summary judgment, the moving party may use affidavits, relevant documents, and depositions or interrogatories to support his/her motion, but in a motion for judgment on the pleadings, he/she cannot.
(f) The motion provided for in this section may be made only after one of the following conditions has occurred: (1) If the moving party is a plaintiff, and the defendant has already filed his or her answer to the complaint and the time for the plaintiff to demur to the answer has expired.
Steps Check if the court has blank motion forms. Some courts have "check the boxes" or "fill in the blank" motion forms. Create your caption. Title your motion. Draft the introductory paragraph to the body of the motion. Request relief. Lay out the applicable facts. Make your legal argument. Insert a signature block.
Legal Reasoning—A writing sample must demonstrate your legal reasoning and analytical skills, i.e., apply law to facts, and distinguish cases on their facts. Thus, an academic survey of case law or a note that summarizes a recently published decision is not the best choice as it does not include legal analysis.
Begin with a concise and neutral statement of the relevant facts of the case. Present the facts in a way that supports your motion. Be sure to cite to the record or evidence when necessary. This is the heart of your brief and should contain your legal arguments supporting the motion.