A company files a breach of contract lawsuit against a supplier, claiming the supplier failed to deliver goods as agreed. The supplier moves for summary judgment, submitting affidavits and business records substantiating that the goods were delivered. The company opposes the motion but submits no evidence or affidavits disputing the supplier’s evidence, instead arguing that the supplier’s evidence lacks credibility. How should the court rule on the motion for summary judgment?
Deny summary judgment because the company’s argument challenges the reliability of the supplier’s evidence.
Grant summary judgment because the supplier’s submission is treated as adequate in the absence of opposing evidence.
Deny summary judgment because the credibility of the supplier’s evidence can only be evaluated at trial.
Grant summary judgment because the company did not provide evidence to dispute the supplier’s submission.
Under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a court must grant summary judgment if there is no genuine dispute of material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. When a party moving for summary judgment meets its burden of providing evidence to support its claim, the burden shifts to the opposing party to present specific evidence that creates a genuine dispute for trial. In this scenario, the supplier supported its motion with affidavits and business records, while the company failed to present any evidence refuting these. Arguments about credibility alone, without evidence, are insufficient to demonstrate a genuine dispute, as courts assume that provided evidence is credible at the summary judgment stage. Therefore, the correct resolution is to grant summary judgment to the supplier. Similar answers are incorrect because courts do not require a trial to address general credibility concerns when no opposing evidence exists.
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