Opinion ID: 887189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: 8 ¶23 This Court reviews a district court’s ruling on summary judgment de novo. Wombold v. Assocs. Fin. Servs. Co. of Mont. Inc., 2004 MT 397, ¶ 29, 325 Mont. 290, ¶ 29, 104 P.3d 1080, ¶ 29. Thus, we apply the same Rule 56, M.R.Civ.P., criteria as applied by the district court. Peyatt v. Moore, 2004 MT 341, ¶ 13, 324 Mont. 249, ¶ 13, 102 P.3d 535, ¶ 13. Summary judgment is proper only when no genuine issues of material fact exist and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Watkins Trust v. Lacosta, 2004 MT 144, ¶ 16, 321 Mont. 432, ¶ 16, 92 P.3d 620, ¶ 16 (citing Rule 56(c), M.R.Civ.P.). ¶24 A judgment as a matter of law entered pursuant to Rule 50(b), M.R.Civ.P., may be granted only when it appears, as a matter of law, that a party could not prevail upon any view of the evidence. Massee v. Thompson, 2004 MT 121, ¶ 25, 321 Mont. 210, ¶ 25, 90 P.3d 394, ¶ 25. Motions for judgment as a matter of law are proper only when there is a complete absence of evidence to warrant submission to a jury. Kneeland v. Luzenac Am. Inc., 1998 MT 136, ¶ 53, 289 Mont. 201, ¶ 53, 961 P.2d 725, ¶ 53. ¶25 Prejudice is never presumed on appeal, and a judgment will not be reversed merely because the lower court erred. In order to reverse, it must affirmatively appear that the error has affected substantial rights of the defendant regarding the merits of the case. State v. DeTienne (1985), 218 Mont. 249, 257, 707 P.2d 534, 539. ¶26 This Court generally will defer to the decision of a trial court regarding sanctions for failure to comply with discovery procedures because the trial court is in the best position to know whether parties are disregarding the rights of opposing parties in the course of litigation. Lewistown Propane Co., v. Moncur, 2002 MT 349, ¶ 22, 313 Mont. 368, ¶ 22, 61 9 P.3d 780, ¶ 22. We review discretionary district court rulings for abuse of discretion. Anderson v. Werner Enter., Inc., 1998 MT 333, ¶ 13, 292 Mont. 284, ¶ 13, 972 P.2d 806, ¶ 13. Moreover, the party assigning error to the trial court’s discovery rulings must show prejudice. Anderson, ¶ 13.