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In federal courts, the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict has been replaced by the motion for judgment as a matter of law.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 updated in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]