Legal Definitions - compulsory nonsuit

Compulsory nonsuit is a legal term that refers to a court's dismissal of a case or a defendant because the plaintiff has failed to make out a legal case or bring forward sufficient evidence. It is also known as involuntary nonsuit or judgment of nonsuit.

For example, if a plaintiff brings a case to court but fails to provide enough evidence to support their claim, the judge may issue a compulsory nonsuit, effectively dismissing the case. This means that the plaintiff cannot continue with the case and must either appeal the decision or drop the case altogether.

Another example of compulsory nonsuit is when a plaintiff voluntarily dismisses their case or a defendant without a decision on the merits. This is known as a voluntary dismissal and is equivalent to a nonsuit under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Overall, compulsory nonsuit is a legal mechanism that allows judges to dismiss cases that do not meet the legal requirements for a trial. It helps to ensure that only valid cases are heard in court and prevents frivolous lawsuits from clogging up the legal system.