motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict

A motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict ( JNOV ) is a motion asking the court to enter a judgment disregarding the verdict rendered by the jury . The motion argues that no reasonable jury could reach the verdict that the jury reached in the particular case. Thus, a judge must conclude that the jury did not follow proper instructions and ruled for the opposing party based on legally insufficient evidence.

In federal courts , the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict has been replaced by the motion for judgment as a matter of law . Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 50b sets out the rules for a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law. In order to make such a motion, the moving party must have motioned for a judgment as a matter of law under Rule 50a prior to the case being submitted to the jury and must then file a renewed motion within 28 days of the entry of judgment.

[Last reviewed in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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