Opinion ID: 1187593
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review of motion for summary adjudication

Text: ¶ 7 Summary adjudication process is a singular pretrial procedure conducted with the aid of acceptable probative substitutes. It is an inquiry into the existence of undisputed material fact issues, which may be conducted, sans forensic combat, in the course of the judicial decision-making process. Its purpose is to identify and isolate non-triable fact issues, not to defeat an opponent's right to trial by jury. Only that evidentiary material which entirely eliminates from trial some or all fact issues may afford legitimate support for nisi prius resort to summary process. [5] ¶ 8 The issues on review of a motion for summary adjudication stand before this court for de novo examination [6] pursuant to several well-known principles: (1) the movant for summary disposition has the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to summary relief as a matter of law; [7] (2) the court may consider, in addition to the pleadings, such items as depositions, affidavits, admissions, answers to interrogatories, and other evidentiary materials submitted to the trial court by the parties and shall view all facts and inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party; [8] and (3) only where the court concludes that there is no substantial controversy as to any material facts which would justify a trial is the movant entitled to summary adjudication as a matter of law. [9] ¶ 9 To prevail as the moving party on a motion for summary adjudication, one who defends against a claim by another must either (a) establish that there is no genuine issue of fact as to at least one essential component of the plaintiff's theory of recovery or (b) prove each essential element of an affirmative defense, showing in either case that, as a matter of law, the plaintiff has no viable cause of action. [10]