Montana Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict or in the Alternative, for a New Trial is a legal procedure that allows a party to challenge a verdict rendered by a jury. This motion can be filed in civil cases in Montana to request the court to overturn the jury's decision and rule in favor of the moving party or, alternatively, to grant a new trial. Keywords: Montana, motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, alternative motion for a new trial, civil cases, legal procedure, challenge a verdict, jury's decision, moving party. In Montana, there are two types of motions available to contest a jury's verdict: Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (NOV) and Motion for a New Trial. 1. Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (NOV): This motion is also known as a motion for judgment as a matter of law or directed verdict. It is a post-trial motion that asks the court to set aside the jury's verdict and enter a verdict in favor of the moving party. The moving party must argue that no reasonable jury could have reached the verdict given the evidence presented during the trial. 2. Alternative Motion for a New Trial: This motion is filed when a party believes that despite there being enough evidence to support the jury's verdict, some legal errors or irregularities occurred during the trial that affected the fairness of the proceedings. The moving party seeks a retrial to ensure a fair and just outcome. A motion for a new trial can be based on various grounds including but not limited to: a. Newly discovered evidence: If crucial evidence that was not available before the trial comes to light, a motion for a new trial can be requested. b. Misconduct: In cases where one party or their attorney engages in misconduct that can significantly prejudice the jury's decision, a new trial might be warranted. c. Error in admitting or excluding evidence: If the court made errors in allowing or excluding evidence during the trial, it can be argued that these errors influenced the jury's decision and thus a new trial is necessary. d. Inadequate damages awarded: If the awarded damages are disproportionately low or high, a motion for a new trial can be filed to reassess the compensation. e. Error in jury instructions or legal rulings: If the court misinterpreted the law or provided incorrect jury instructions that affected the fairness of the trial, a new trial may be requested. In conclusion, the Montana Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict or in the Alternative, for a New Trial is a vital legal tool that allows parties to challenge a jury's decision in civil cases. The two available motions, NOV or a new trial, provide options for seeking a different outcome based on various grounds such as lack of evidence, legal errors, or misconduct.