summary-judgment-brief

name	summary-judgment-brief
title	Summary Judgment Motion Brief
description	Drafts FRCP 56 summary judgment motion briefs for U.S. commercial litigation. Synthesizes discovery evidence with controlling authority to show no genuine dispute of material fact. Use when drafting MSJ briefs, dispositive motions, or partial summary judgment papers post-discovery.
author	CaseMark
author_url	https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/summary-judgment-brief
license	Apache-2.0
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	us
practice	litigation
language	en
tags	["brief","drafting"]

Summary Judgment Motion Brief

Draft a dispositive motion demonstrating entitlement to judgment as a matter of law under FRCP 56 or state equivalent.

Prerequisites

Before drafting, confirm:

1. Discovery record — depositions, interrogatory answers, RFAs, document productions
2. Claims/defenses targeted — which counts or affirmative defenses the motion addresses
3. Controlling authority — binding precedent on substantive elements and SJ standard
4. Local rules — page limits, separate statement requirements, combined vs. separate motion/brief
5. Party role — plaintiff (proving all elements undisputed) or defendant (negating an element)

Brief Structure

1. Caption

Include court (with division), full case title, case number, and document title per local rule formatting. Check whether jurisdiction requires separate notice of motion.

2. Introduction (2–3 paragraphs)

• Identify moving party and claims/defenses at issue
• Preview key undisputed facts material to disposition
• State why judgment as a matter of law follows
• Frame: no reasonable jury could find for non-movant on this record

3. Statement of Undisputed Material Facts

Number each fact separately with record citations:

1. [Objective fact — no argument or conclusions].
   (Ex. A, Smith Dep. 45:12–46:3; Ex. B, Invoice dated 3/15/2024.)

2. [Next fact...]
   (Jones Decl. ¶ 7; RFA No. 12, admitted.)

Rules:

• Every fact cited to admissible evidence (deposition page:line, declaration ¶, exhibit, RFA)
• Only material facts — no background filler
• Objective language only
• Organize chronologically or by element

4. Legal Standard

Cover these components:

Component	Content
Rule	FRCP 56(a) or state equivalent
Movant's burden	Demonstrate absence of genuine dispute — Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986)
Burden shift	Non-movant must show specific facts creating genuine issue — Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242 (1986)
Viewing standard	Light most favorable to non-movant — Matsushita Elec. v. Zenith Radio, 475 U.S. 574 (1986)