Which statement correctly distinguishes a judgment on the pleadings from a summary judgment?

Which statement correctly distinguishes a judgment on the pleadings from a summary judgment?

• A. Summary judgment arises when the Answer denies material allegations.
• B. Judgment on the pleadings arises when the Answer fails to tender any issue.
• C. Summary judgment is proper when there is a genuine issue.
• D. Judgment on the pleadings requires issues in the Answer.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is distinguishing two ways to resolve a case without a full trial: judgment on the pleadings relies only on what’s in the pleadings themselves (the complaint and the answer), while summary judgment uses the broader record to determine there are no genuine issues of material fact. Judgment on the pleadings is proper when the pleadings show there are no material facts in dispute and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. If the Answer does not raise any issues—i.e., it doesn’t bring in new facts or defenses—there’s nothing left to trial on, so the court can decide based solely on the pleadings. That’s why the statement describing judgment on the pleadings as arising when the Answer fails to tender any issue is the best fit. In contrast, summary judgment looks to the entire record, including evidence outside the pleadings, and is granted only if there is no genuine issue of material fact. Simply denying allegations in the Answer does not automatically create or resolve those issues, and having genuine issues would defeat a summary judgment. The option suggesting summary judgment arises when there is a genuine issue is incorrect, because genuine issues prevent judgment without trial. The option stating judgment on the pleadings requires issues in the Answer is incorrect because the presence of issues in the Answer would prevent deciding the case on the pleadings alone.

The main idea is distinguishing two ways to resolve a case without a full trial: judgment on the pleadings relies only on what’s in the pleadings themselves (the complaint and the answer), while summary judgment uses the broader record to determine there are no genuine issues of material fact.

Judgment on the pleadings is proper when the pleadings show there are no material facts in dispute and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. If the Answer does not raise any issues—i.e., it doesn’t bring in new facts or defenses—there’s nothing left to trial on, so the court can decide based solely on the pleadings. That’s why the statement describing judgment on the pleadings as arising when the Answer fails to tender any issue is the best fit.

In contrast, summary judgment looks to the entire record, including evidence outside the pleadings, and is granted only if there is no genuine issue of material fact. Simply denying allegations in the Answer does not automatically create or resolve those issues, and having genuine issues would defeat a summary judgment.

The option suggesting summary judgment arises when there is a genuine issue is incorrect, because genuine issues prevent judgment without trial. The option stating judgment on the pleadings requires issues in the Answer is incorrect because the presence of issues in the Answer would prevent deciding the case on the pleadings alone.