A motion to strike is a legal request made to a court, asking it to remove specific statements, documents, or evidence from the court record.
This motion can be used in various contexts, including during pre-trial, trial, and post-trial phases, to eliminate improper or irrelevant material that may prejudice the case.
A motion to strike is a procedural tool used by attorneys to ensure that only relevant and admissible evidence and statements are considered by the court. It aims to prevent the jury or judge from being influenced by information that should not be part of the legal proceedings.
The grounds for filing a motion to strike can vary, but common reasons include:
- Irrelevance: Material that has no bearing on the case or is not pertinent to the issues being decided.
- Prejudice: Statements or evidence that may unduly sway the judge or jury against one party.
- Incompetence: Evidence or statements that are not legally acceptable or reliable.
- Improper Pleading: Parts of legal pleadings that do not conform to procedural rules or contain scandalous or inflammatory allegations.
Pre-Trial Motions: During the pre-trial phase, a motion to strike can be used to remove parts of a complaint, answer, or other pleadings that are improper. For example, a defendant may file a motion to strike redundant or immaterial allegations in the plaintiff’s complaint.
Trial Proceedings: During a trial, a motion to strike can be made to exclude testimony or evidence that has been presented but is deemed inadmissible. For example, if a witness provides hearsay testimony, the opposing counsel may move to strike that testimony from the record.
Post-Trial Motions: After a trial, motions to strike can address issues in post-trial motions or appeal records. For instance, a party may move to strike arguments or evidence that were improperly included in appellate briefs.
A common misconception about a motion to strike is that it is always successful or that it can remove any unwanted material. In reality, the motion must be well-founded and supported by legal arguments demonstrating why the material in question should be removed. Judges have the discretion to grant or deny such motions based on the merits of the arguments presented.
Another misunderstanding is that a motion to strike can eliminate entire cases or claims. While it can remove specific parts of pleadings or evidence, it does not typically dispose of an entire case. Instead, it targets particular issues within the broader context of the litigation.
Additionally, some people believe that a motion to strike can be used frivolously to delay proceedings or harass the opposing party. However, courts generally discourage such tactics and may impose sanctions for filing unfounded or vexatious motions to strike.