Opinion ID: 2300624
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Standard Relevant to a Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law

Text: When ruling on a Rule 50 motion for judgment as a matter of law, the trial justice is called upon to consider the evidence presented at trial in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, without weighing the evidence or evaluating the credibility of witnesses   . Swerdlick v. Koch, 721 A.2d 849, 856 (R.I.1998); see also Bliss Mine Road Condominium Association v. Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Co., 11 A.3d 1078, 1083 (R.I.2010); Mead v. Papa Razzi, 899 A.2d 437, 442 (R.I.2006) ( Mead II ). A trial justice may grant such a motion if he or she determines that a party has been fully heard on an issue and there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find for that party on that issue   . Black v. Vaiciulis, 934 A.2d 216, 219 (R.I.2007) (omission in original); see also Botelho v. Caster's Inc., 970 A.2d 541, 544-45 (R.I.2009); Marcil v. Kells, 936 A.2d 208, 212 (R.I.2007). On the other hand, such a motion must be denied if there are factual issues concerning which reasonable people may reach differing conclusions. Botelho, 970 A.2d at 545; see also Trainor v. The Standard Times, 924 A.2d 766, 769 (R.I.2007); Tedesco v. Connors, 871 A.2d 920, 927 (R.I.2005). It is a fundamental principle that this Court reviews in a de novo manner a trial justice's decision with respect to a motion for judgment as a matter of law. See Lett v. Giuliano, 35 A.3d 870, 874-75 (R.I.2012); see also Giron v. Bailey, 985 A.2d 1003, 1007 (R.I.2009). It is also well established that, in conducting that review, we employ the same standard as did the trial justice. Black, 934 A.2d at 219; see also Bliss Mine Road Condominium Association, 11 A.3d at 1083; Bajakian v. Erinakes, 880 A.2d 843, 849 (R.I.2005); Graff v. Motta, 695 A.2d 486, 491 (R.I. 1997). B