What does a dispositive motion seek to accomplish?

A dispositive motion is a legal request made to a court to obtain a ruling that fully resolves a legal issue at hand, effectively terminating the litigation or a particular claim or defense within the case without the need for a trial. This type of motion aims to address the merits of the case based on the facts and law, allowing the court to decide if there is enough evidence or legal grounds for the case to proceed.

In the context of civil litigation, common types of dispositive motions include motions for summary judgment, which seek to show that there is no genuine dispute of material fact, and thus one party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

The other options do not align with the function of a dispositive motion: initiating a mediation process involves a different approach to dispute resolution unrelated to judicial determination; settling the case before going to trial may involve negotiation or settlement discussions, which are separate from a dispositive motion; and prolonging legal proceedings for further negotiation contradicts the intent of a dispositive motion, which is to provide a prompt resolution to a case.