“Summary judgment and summary adjudication motions are governed by the detailed statutory scheme found in Code Civ. Proc. § 437c. Although these motions have a number of potential procedural and evidentiary traps, and are often extensively briefed, at their core they are based upon a simple inquiry: whether the opposing party can present a triable issue of a material fact that is supported by evidence. The motion provides the courts with a mechanism to cut through the parties’ pleadings to determine whether trial is necessary to resolve the dispute. Summary judgment is properly granted if there are no issues of triable fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
[California Summary Judgment & Related Termination Motions [certain citations omitted]]
