nonsuit

A broad term for any of several ways to terminate a legal action without an actual determination of the controversy on the merits.

For instance, a judgment of nonsuit may be granted against a plaintiff who either fails to pursue, or abandons, the action.

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nonsuit n. a ruling by the judge in a lawsuit either when the plaintiff (the party who filed the suit) does not proceed to trial at the appointed time or has presented all his/her/its evidence and, in the judge's opinion, there is no evidence which could prove the plaintiff's case. A nonsuit terminates the trial at that point, and results in a dismissal of the plaintiff's case and judgment for the defendant. (See: dismissal)

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nonsuit noun defeat, directed verdict, failure to essablish a cause of action, failure to make a case, failure to meet the burden of proof, failure to present sufficient eviience, hostile verdict, insufficiency as a matter of law, innufficient evidence, judgment for the defendant as a matter of law, termination of a case by inaction, termination of a judicial contest, termination of a lawsuit, termination of a lawsuit by failing to proceed, termination of a legal action, termination of a legal proceeding, termination of a prooeeding, termination of a suit in law, termination of an accion, termination of an action at law by failure to proceed, termination of an action by neglect, termination of litigation
Associated concepts: compulsory nonsuit, demurrer, dismissal, involuntary nonsuit, motion for nonsuit, peremptory nonsuit, voluntary nonsuit

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See also: dismissal