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judgment

judgment definition - legal

A courtÂ’s final resolution of the issues before it at trial or upon a dispositive motion.

default judgment

A judgment entered due to the failure of the defendant to answer or otherwise respond to the claim.

deficiency judgment

A judgment in favor of a creditor following a forced sale of property, for the difference between the amount owed and the amount collected as a result of the sale, so as to fully compensate the creditor.

final judgment

A judgment which fully ends a case, on its merits (as opposed to on procedural grounds).Â A final judgment is generally necessary before a party can file an appeal.Â

foreign judgment

A judgment of a different state or country than the one in which the judgment is being challenged or as to which enforcement is sought.Â

judgment creditor

A creditor who has obtained, through judicial process, a judgment against a debtor; commonly used in bankruptcy proceedings to distinguish such a creditor from others to whom the debtor owes money but do not have judgments.Â Judgment creditors may be entitled to preferential distribution of a debtorÂ’s money if there are insufficient assets to pay all creditors.Â

judgment debtor

A debtor who owes money to a creditor who has obtained a judgment against the debtor in that amount.Â See judgment creditor.Â

judgment docket

A roll or listing of judgments maintained by a clerk or administrative office of a court.

judgment in rem

A judgment that disposes of property, or resolves competing interests in a piece of property, as opposed to a judgment that is against a person ordering payment of money.Â

judgment lien

A lien against property that results from a judicial proceeding in which a monetary award has been made and has been reduced to judgment; until payment of the judgment, a lien will be placed against all real property (and some personal property) of the individual or entity that owes payment of the judgment.Â

judgment non obstante veridicto

Latin

Latin.Â Judgment notwithstanding the verdict.Â In rare cases, a judge may enter a judgment in favor of one party despite a juryÂ’s award against that party; generally in cases where the evidence was such that no reasonable jury could have come to the determination that it did. Abbreviated j.n.o.v.

judgment of conviction

The final decision in a criminal case, which includes the plea taken by the defendant, the verdict, any court findings, and the ultimate sentence.Â

judgment of dismissal

A judgment invalidating or otherwise disposing of the plaintiffÂ’s or the prosecutorÂ’s claims prior to a trial.

judgment on the merits

A judgment issued after the parties have had a full chance to present evidence and witnesses at trial.

judgment on the pleadings

A judgment that is issued on the pleadings alone, either on the basis that the plaintiffÂ’s pleadings are inadequate or that the defendant has failed to plead any fact that negates the plaintiffÂ’s claims or raises an affirmative defense.