§56.1 Introduction

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§56.1INTRODUCTION

In three major summary judgment decisions in its 1985-86 term, the United States Supreme Court clarified what the nonmoving party must do to withstand a motion for summary judgment. These cases increased the utility of summary judgment in the federal courts. In 1989, the Washington Supreme Court found the United States Supreme Court's reasoning and analysis to be persuasive and adopted the federal burden of proof standards. The cases gave new life to defensive summary judgment...