Opinion ID: 2575947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: The claims at issue in this appeal were disposed of via summary judgment. When we consider appeals of orders on such motions, our standard of review is the same as that of the district court in considering the motion. Thomson v. City of Lewiston, 137 Idaho 473, 475, 50 P.3d 488, 491 (2002). Summary judgment is appropriate only when the pleadings, depositions, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. I.R.C.P. 56(c). The burden of establishing the absence of an issue of material fact is on the moving party. Tingley v. Harrison, 125 Idaho 86, 89, 867 P.2d 960, 963 (1994). To meet this burden, the moving party must challenge in its motion and establish through evidence the absence of any genuine issue of material fact on an element of the nonmoving party's case. Smith v. Meridian Joint Sch. Dist. No. 2, 128 Idaho 714, 719, 918 P.2d 583, 588 (1996). Courts must liberally construe the record, and draw all reasonable inferences therefrom in the nonmoving party's favor. Friel v. Boise City Hous. Auth., 126 Idaho 484, 485, 887 P.2d 29, 30 (1994). If the facts, when so construed, are such that reasonable persons could reach differing conclusions, summary judgment is not available. Harris v. Department of Health & Welfare, 123 Idaho 295, 298, 847 P.2d 1156, 1159 (1992).