Opinion ID: 2363205
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Review of the Grant of Summary Judgment

Text: This case requires us to review the Circuit Court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Respondent Lockheed Martin. We consider, de novo, first, whether a material fact was placed in genuine dispute, thus requiring a trial, and, second, if trial by a fact-finder is not required, whether the Circuit Court was legally correct in granting summary judgment. Livesay v. Baltimore County, 384 Md. 1, 9, 862 A.2d 33, 38 (2004) (citing Walk v. Hartford Cas. Ins. Co., 382 Md. 1, 14, 852 A.2d 98, 105 (2004)). The standard for reviewing the grant of summary judgment is well-settled in Maryland: Maryland Rule 2-501 indicates that a motion for summary judgment is appropriate `on all or part of an action on the ground that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.' A motion for summary judgment may be supported by affidavit. When reviewing the grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment we must determine whether a material factual issue exists, and all inferences are resolved against the moving party. `[E]ven where the underlying facts are undisputed, if those facts are susceptible of more than one permissible inference, the choice between those inferences should not be made as a matter of law, but should be submitted to the trier of fact.' The function of a summary judgment proceeding is not to try the case or to attempt to resolve factual disputes but to determine whether there is a dispute as to material facts sufficient to provide an issue to be tried. A `material fact' is one which will somehow affect the outcome of the case. An appellate court reviewing a summary judgment examines the same information from the record and determines the same issues of law as the trial court. We are often concerned with whether a dispute of material fact exists when reviewing the grant of a summary judgment motion. We recently reiterated the standard of review for a trial court's grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment in Myers v. Kayhoe, 391 Md. 188, 892 A.2d 520 (2006): `The question of whether a trial court's grant of summary judgment was proper is a question of law subject to de novo review on appeal. Livesay v. Baltimore, 384 Md. 1, 9, 862 A.2d 33, 38 (2004). In reviewing a grant of summary judgment under Md. Rule 2-501, we independently review the record to determine whether the parties properly generated a dispute of material fact and, if not, whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 9-10, 862 A.2d at 38. We review the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and construe any reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the facts against the moving party.' Id. at 10, 862 A.2d at 38. Id. at 203, 892 A.2d at 529. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n v. Riley, 393 Md. 55, 65-67, 899 A.2d 819, 825-826 (2006) (some internal citations omitted). There are no material facts in genuine dispute here bearing on the legal ground upon which summary judgment was granted. The parties agree that, on 9 October 2001, Petitioner was issued a written notification of her layoff, which was to become effective on 23 October 2001. Petitioner's employment at Lockheed ceased on 23 October 2001. Therefore, we shall consider whether the grant of summary judgment by the Circuit Court in favor of Lockheed Martin based on the applicable statute of limitations, was correct as a matter of law. Livesay, 384 Md. at 9, 862 A.2d at 38.