A.
Art. 1811.Motion For Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title V. Trial · Chapter 7. Jury Trial · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1811 governs the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, commonly called a JNOV, setting a seven-day deadline to file it, giving the trial court the choice between letting the verdict stand, ordering a new trial, or rendering judgment against the verdict, and coordinating how a conditional ruling on a companion new-trial motion carries through an appeal.
Full Text of Art. 1811
(1) Not later than seven days, exclusive of legal holidays, after the clerk has mailed or delivered in open court, or the sheriff has served, the notice of judgment in accordance with Article 1913, a party may move for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. If a verdict was not returned, a party may move for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict not later than seven days, exclusive of legal holidays, after the jury was discharged.
(2) A motion for a new trial may be joined with this motion, or a new trial may be prayed for in the alternative.
B. If a verdict was returned the court may allow the judgment to stand or may reopen the judgment and either order a new trial or render a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. If no verdict was returned, the court may render a judgment or order a new trial.
C.
(1) If the motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict is granted, the court shall also rule on the motion for a new trial, if any, by determining whether it should be granted if the judgment is thereafter vacated or reversed and shall specify the grounds for granting or denying the motion for a new trial. If the motion for a new trial is thus conditionally granted, the order thereon does not affect the finality of the judgment.
(2) If the motion for a new trial has been conditionally granted and the judgment is reversed on appeal, the new trial shall proceed unless the appellate court orders otherwise.
(3) If the motion for a new trial has been conditionally denied and the judgment is reversed on appeal, subsequent proceedings shall be in accordance with the order of the appellate court.
D. The party whose verdict has been set aside on a motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict may move for a new trial pursuant to Articles 1972 and 1973. The motion for a new trial shall be filed no later than seven days, exclusive of legal holidays, after the clerk has mailed or the sheriff has served the notice of the signing of the judgment notwithstanding the verdict under Article 1913. The motion shall be served pursuant to Articles 1976 and 1314.
E. If the motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict is denied, the party who prevailed on that motion may, as appellee, assert grounds entitling him to a new trial in the event the appellate court concludes that the trial court erred in denying the motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. If the appellate court reverses the judgment, nothing in this Article precludes the court from determining that the appellee is entitled to a new trial or from directing the trial court to determine whether a new trial shall be granted.
F. The motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict may be granted on the issue of liability or on the issue of damages or on both issues.
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 2025, No. 250, §3, eff. 8/1/2025. Acts 1983, No. 534, §8. Amended by Acts 1984, No. 40, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1263, §1, eff. 1/1/2000.
Plain-English Summary
A judgment notwithstanding the verdict, which practitioners shorten to JNOV, lets a trial court set aside a jury's verdict and enter judgment the other way when the verdict cannot be reconciled with the evidence. Article 1811 gives that device a seven-day filing deadline, excluding legal holidays, running from when the clerk mails or delivers in open court, or the sheriff serves, notice of judgment — or, if no verdict was returned at all, from when the jury was discharged. A motion for new trial can ride along with the JNOV motion, either joined with it or requested as an alternative.
Once a JNOV motion is before it, the trial court has options. If a verdict was returned, the court can let the judgment stand, or reopen it and either order a new trial or render the JNOV itself. If no verdict came back, the court can render a judgment or order a new trial instead. When the court grants a JNOV, Paragraph C requires it to also rule on any companion new-trial motion — conditionally granting or denying that motion in case the JNOV is later vacated or reversed on appeal, and specifying its grounds either way. That conditional ruling does not affect the finality of the judgment, and it dictates what happens if the appellate court reverses: the new trial proceeds unless the appellate court says otherwise where the new-trial motion was conditionally granted, and the appellate court's own order controls where it was conditionally denied.
The article also protects the party who loses on a JNOV motion in either direction. A party whose verdict is set aside by a JNOV may move for a new trial under the general new-trial articles, with its own seven-day deadline running from notice of the JNOV judgment. And a party who defeats a JNOV motion — meaning the verdict against them stood — can still argue as appellee, if the case goes up on appeal, that it is entitled to a new trial in the event the appellate court decides the trial court should have granted the JNOV after all. Finally, Paragraph F makes clear a JNOV is not all-or-nothing: it can be granted on liability alone, on damages alone, or on both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does JNOV stand for?
Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict, Louisiana's name for a motion asking the trial court to set aside a jury's verdict and enter judgment the other way.
How long do I have to file a JNOV motion?
Seven days, excluding legal holidays, after notice of judgment is mailed, delivered in open court, or served, or after the jury is discharged if no verdict was returned.
Can I ask for a new trial in the same motion as a JNOV?
Yes. A motion for new trial may be joined with the JNOV motion or requested in the alternative.
What happens on appeal if the trial court denies my JNOV motion?
If you prevailed on that motion, you may, as appellee, still argue you are entitled to a new trial if the appellate court concludes the JNOV denial was error.
Can a JNOV apply to just damages and not liability?
Yes. Article 1811(F) allows the motion to be granted on liability alone, damages alone, or both.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: JNOVjudgment notwithstanding the verdict LouisianaArticle 1811 Louisiana Code of Civil Proceduremotion for JNOV deadline Louisianarenewed judgment as a matter of law Louisiana equivalent