Opinion ID: 573144
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Standards Governing Summary Judgment

Text: 8 A district court must grant summary judgment if the moving party shows that there is no genuine dispute regarding any material fact and it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). One way to seek an award of summary judgment is for the moving party to demonstrate that an essential element of the non-movant's case is lacking. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. at 2554. After such a showing, unless the non-moving party offers proof sufficient to establish the existence of the essential element, the district court must grant summary judgment to the moving party. Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. at 2552. Because our review of a district court's summary judgment decision is de novo, we independently review the record, following the same standards that guide a district court. See, e.g., Hinesville Bank v. Pony Express Courier Corp., 868 F.2d 1532, 1534 (11th Cir.1989).