Opinion ID: 2164437
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Appellant properly presented to the Superior Court a genuine issue as to a material fact.

Text: ALPA argues that both procedural and substantive grounds support the trial court's entry of summary judgment in its favor. Specifically, ALPA claims (1) that appellant failed to comply with the requirement of Super.Ct.Civ.R. 56(e) that a party opposing a summary judgment motion respond to that motion by setting forth facts showing a genuine issue for trial, and (2) that even aside from this procedural bar, summary judgment was proper because no genuine issue existed. We reject both of these claims. Rule 56(e) provides in pertinent part: [3] When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations and denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If he does not respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him. Stressing the Rule's requirement of a written response to a summary judgment motion, ALPA asks this court to affirm on this procedural ground. However, Rule 56(e) implicitly recognizes that there are situations in which no defense will be required by a party opposing a summary judgment motion. The closing sentence of that subsection provides that if the opposing party does not respond to the motion, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him. (Emphasis supplied.) Further, the Advisory Committee Notes to the corresponding federal rule observe that [w]here the evidentiary matter in support of the motion does not establish the absence of a genuine issue, summary judgment must be denied even if no opposing evidentiary matter is presented. [4] We conclude that summary judgment was inappropriate in the present case, despite appellant's apparent failure to file a written response to the summary judgment motion, because ALPA did not establish in its motion the absence of a genuine issue. In so concluding, we note both (i) that material facts in support of a summary judgment motion must be viewed in a light most favorable to the opposing party, with all inferences drawn in its favor, [5] and (ii) that a trial court should be cautious in granting a motion for summary judgment when resolution of the issues requires a determination of state of mind. [6] ALPA's Statement of Facts Not in Genuine Dispute, filed with its summary judgment motion, stipulated that ALPA had sent appellant notices indicating that payment of the minimum balance due would correct his bad standing condition. Thus, that statement of facts in no way contradicted or explained away the allegations in appellant's original complaint that ALPA had induced him to rely to his detriment on ALPA's promises of good standing on payment of the minimum balance. Indeed, when viewed in a light most favorable to appellant, ALPA's statement of facts would support such a complaint by appellant. This observation coupled with the fact that an issue central to appellant's estoppel theory of recovery was his subjective response to the legend appearing on ALPA's computerized notices, persuades us that appellant's failure to file affidavits as contemplated by Rule 56(e) did not justify the trial court's entry of summary judgment against him.