Rule 50.Judgment as a Matter of Law in a Jury Trial; Related Motion for a New Trial; Conditional Ruling

Enacted effective October 1, 2011 · Last verified June 26, 2026

In one sentenceRule 50 governs judgment as a matter of law in a jury trial — allowing the court to take an issue from the jury when no reasonable jury could find for a party, the renewed post-trial motion (due within 28 days), and the conditional ruling on a companion new-trial motion.

Full Text of Rule 50

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(a) Judgment as a Matter of Law.

(1) In General. If a party has been fully heard on an issue during a jury trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for the party on that issue, the court may:

(A) resolve the issue against the party; and

(B) grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue.

(2) Motion. A motion for judgment as a matter of law may be made at any time before the case is submitted to the jury. The motion must specify the judgment sought and the law and facts that entitle the movant to the judgment.

(b) Renewing the Motion after Trial; Alternative Motion for a New Trial. If the court does not grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law made under Rule 50(a), the court is considered to have submitted the action to the jury subject to the court’s later deciding the legal questions raised by the motion. No later than 28 days after the entry of judgment -- or if the motion addresses a jury issue not decided by a verdict, no later than 28 days after the jury was discharged -- the movant may file a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law and may include an alternative or joint request for a new trial under Rule 59. If the court does not rule on a properly filed renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law or an alternative or joint request for a new trial within 60 days from its filing date, the motion is deemed denied. In ruling on the renewed motion, the court may:

(1) allow judgment on the verdict, if the jury returned a verdict;

(2) order a new trial; or

(3) direct the entry of judgment as a matter of law.

(1) In General. If the court grants a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law, it must also conditionally rule on any motion for a new trial by determining whether a new trial should be granted if the judgment is later vacated or reversed. The court must state the grounds for conditionally granting or denying the motion for a new trial.

(2) Effect of a Conditional Ruling. Conditionally granting the motion for a new trial does not affect the judgment's finality; if the judgment is reversed, the new trial must proceed unless the appellate court orders otherwise. If the motion for a new trial is conditionally denied, the appellee may assert error in that denial; if the judgment is reversed, the case must proceed as the appellate court orders.

(d) Time for a Losing Party’s New-Trial Motion. Any motion for a new trial under Rule 59 by a party against whom judgment as a matter of law is rendered must be filed no later than 28 days after the entry of the judgment.

(e) Denying the Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law; Reversal on Appeal. If the court denies the motion for judgment as a matter of law, the prevailing party may, as appellee, assert grounds entitling it to a new trial should the appellate court conclude that the trial court erred in denying the motion. If the appellate court reverses the judgment, it may order a new trial, direct the trial court to determine whether a new trial should be granted, or direct the entry of judgment.

End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 50 lets a court override a jury when the evidence one-sidedly favors the other side. During trial, once a party has been fully heard on an issue, if the court finds that a reasonable jury would lack a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for that party, it may grant judgment as a matter of law against them. The motion can be made any time before the case goes to the jury and must specify the judgment sought and the supporting law and facts.

If the court does not grant the motion, it is treated as reserving the question. The movant may then file a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law within 28 days after judgment, optionally combined with a Rule 59 motion for a new trial. A distinctively Montana wrinkle: if the court does not rule on the renewed motion within 60 days, it is deemed denied. When granting a renewed motion, the court must also rule conditionally on any new-trial motion, so the appellate court knows what should happen if the judgment is reversed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is judgment as a matter of law?

A ruling that takes an issue from the jury because, after a party has been fully heard, no reasonable jury could find for that party on it. It replaces what used to be called a directed verdict.

How long do I have to renew the motion after trial?

You must file the renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law no later than 28 days after entry of judgment, and you may join an alternative request for a new trial under Rule 59.

What if the court doesn't rule on my renewed motion?

In Montana, if the court does not rule on a properly filed renewed motion (or alternative new-trial request) within 60 days of filing, the motion is deemed denied.

Source & verification. Reproduced verbatim from the Montana Code Annotated as published by the State Law Library of Montana and the Montana Legislature. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Adopted by the Supreme Court of Montana (AF 07-0157). Last verified June 26, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: jmoljudgment as a matter of lawdirected verdictjnovjudgment notwithstanding the verdict