A directed verdict is a ruling issued by a judge during a jury trial, which effectively ends the trial by deciding the case in favor of one party without allowing the jury to deliberate on the evidence.
This legal mechanism is employed when, after considering all the evidence presented in the light most favorable to the opposing party, there is a clear lack of legally sufficient evidence to support a verdict against the party requesting the directed verdict. Essentially, it is used to avoid unnecessary jury deliberations when one party has not met the burden of proof required by law.
Civil Trials: Often invoked to prevent a case from reaching the jury when the evidence is insufficient to establish a claim.
Criminal Trials: Utilized to acquit a defendant when the prosecution fails to present enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A common misunderstanding is that directed verdicts reflect judicial bias or opinion about the case's facts, rather than a strict application of legal standards to the evidence presented.
Contracts and Agreements Lawyer Serving at Birmingham - Michigan
1895 Bradford Rd, Michigan, 48009-72530 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Birmingham - Michigan
1895 Bradford Rd, Michigan, 48009-7253Contracts and Agreements Lawyer Serving at Brighton - Michigan
224 N 1st St, Michigan, 48116-12050 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Brighton - Michigan
224 N 1st St, Michigan, 48116-1205Business Lawyer Serving at Dearborn - Michigan
23756 Michigan Ave Ste 300, Michigan, 48124-18530 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Dearborn - Michigan
23756 Michigan Ave Ste 300, Michigan, 48124-1853Civil Rights Lawyer Serving at Ann Arbor - Michigan
1675 Green Rd, Michigan, 48105-25300 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Ann Arbor - Michigan
1675 Green Rd, Michigan, 48105-2530Commercial Lawyer Serving at Farmington Hills - Michigan
31440 Northwestern Hwy Ste 145, Michigan, 48334-54200 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Farmington Hills - Michigan
31440 Northwestern Hwy Ste 145, Michigan, 48334-5420Business Lawyer Serving at Ann Arbor - Michigan
789 N Dixboro Rd, Michigan, 48105-97230 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Ann Arbor - Michigan
789 N Dixboro Rd, Michigan, 48105-9723Juvenile Lawyer Serving at Hamtramck - Michigan
2933 Caniff St Unit 12250, Michigan, 48212-47120 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Hamtramck - Michigan
2933 Caniff St Unit 12250, Michigan, 48212-4712Workers Compensation Law Lawyer Serving at Los Angeles - California
Law Office of Damir Junicic, 10880 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1101, California, 90024-41120 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Los Angeles - California
Law Office of Damir Junicic, 10880 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1101, California, 90024-4112Environmental and Natural Resources Lawyer Serving at Detroit - Michigan
651 E Jefferson Ave, Michigan, 48226-43490 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Detroit - Michigan
651 E Jefferson Ave, Michigan, 48226-4349Business Lawyer Serving at Mount Pleasant - Michigan
164 Grawn Hall, Michigan, 48859-00010 reviews
Lawyer Serving at Mount Pleasant - Michigan
164 Grawn Hall, Michigan, 48859-0001