A motion for judgment as a matter of law is a procedure during trial in which a party who does not have the burden of proof on a claim (generally the defendant) or on a defense to a claim (generally the plaintiff) may ask the court to dismiss the claim or defense before the jury is allowed to decide it. The standard for dismissing such a claim or defense is whether no reasonable jury could find for the opposing party on the claim or defense. In the federal court system, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.

In Florida, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that occurs during a trial, where a party without the burden of proof (typically the defendant for a claim or the plaintiff for a defense) requests the court to decide on a claim or defense without submitting it to the jury. This motion can be made before the case is submitted to the jury or after the jury has reached a verdict but before it is officially recorded. The state equivalent to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 is governed by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 1.480. The standard for the court to grant such a motion is similar to the federal standard; the court must find that no reasonable jury could conclude in the opposing party's favor based on the evidence presented. If the court finds that the evidence does not sufficiently support the claim or defense, it may grant the motion and enter a judgment accordingly.