A motion for judgment on the pleadings can be made by which party?

A motion for judgment on the pleadings is a procedural step that can be undertaken by either the plaintiff or the defendant after all the pleadings have been completed. The purpose of this motion is to seek a judgment based solely on the information contained within the pleadings, without the need for a trial. At this stage, the court examines the pleadings – which typically include the complaint and the answer – to determine if there are any material facts in dispute. If there are none, then the party making the motion can request a judgment based on the law, asserting that even if all the allegations in the opposition's pleadings are true, they are still entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

This motion serves as a mechanism for resolving cases quickly when the legal issue can be determined without additional evidence. Typically, such a motion is made after both sides have had a chance to plead their cases, which aligns with the understanding that it can be invoked by either party. Thus, the option stating that either party can make the motion once pleadings are complete accurately reflects the procedural rules governing civil litigation.