Opinion ID: 2507163
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: [¶ 9] Summary judgment is proper only when there are no genuine issues of material fact and the prevailing party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. A material fact is any fact that, if proved, would have the effect of establishing or refuting an essential element of a claim or defense asserted by a party. We review a summary judgment in the same light as the district court, using the same materials and following the same standards. We examine the record from the vantage point most favorable to the party opposing the motion, and we give that party the benefit of all favorable inferences which may fairly be drawn from the record. Summary judgment serves the purpose of eliminating formal trials where only questions of law are involved. We review a grant of summary judgment by deciding a question of law de novo and afford no deference to the district court's ruling on that question. Hulse, ¶ 25, 33 P.3d at 131.