Legal Definitions - genuine issue of material fact

Definition: A genuine issue of material fact is a disagreement between opposing parties on facts that are legally relevant to a claim. The disagreement must be "genuine" in the sense that it must be plausible. For example, one cannot dispute a contract date without also alleging that a copy of a contract with that date inaccurately reflects the agreement. A genuine issue of material fact precludes summary judgment, which is proper if there is no genuine issue of material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. The burden of proof shifts to the nonmoving party when the moving party makes a prima facie showing that there isn't a genuine issue over a material fact. This showing must be refuted by the nonmoving party by providing substantial evidence raising a genuine issue over a material fact.

Example: In a personal injury case, the plaintiff claims that the defendant's negligence caused their injuries. The defendant argues that they were not negligent and that the plaintiff's injuries were caused by their own actions. The disagreement over the cause of the injuries is a genuine issue of material fact because it is legally relevant to the claim. If the court were to grant summary judgment in favor of the defendant, it would be assuming that the defendant was not negligent, which is a disputed fact.

Example: In a breach of contract case, the plaintiff claims that the defendant failed to deliver goods on time, causing the plaintiff to lose money. The defendant argues that they did deliver the goods on time and that the plaintiff's losses were caused by other factors. The disagreement over whether the goods were delivered on time is a genuine issue of material fact because it is legally relevant to the claim. If the court were to grant summary judgment in favor of the defendant, it would be assuming that the goods were delivered on time, which is a disputed fact.