A motion for judgment as a matter of law is a procedure during trial in which a party who does not have the burden of proof on a claim (generally the defendant) or on a defense to a claim (generally the plaintiff) may ask the court to dismiss the claim or defense before the jury is allowed to decide it. The standard for dismissing such a claim or defense is whether no reasonable jury could find for the opposing party on the claim or defense. In the federal court system, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.
In Texas, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that occurs during a trial. This motion can be filed by a party who does not have the burden of proof, typically the defendant in the case of a claim or the plaintiff when it comes to a defense. The purpose of this motion is to request the court to decide on a claim or defense without sending it to the jury, based on the argument that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure align with the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 in this regard. Under Texas law, such a motion is typically referred to as a 'motion for directed verdict' or 'motion for judgment as a matter of law' and is governed by Rule 268 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The court will grant this motion only if the evidence presented is so one-sided that reasonable minds could not differ in their conclusions.
