Rule 50.Motion for a directed verdict and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.

Last amended 1969 · Last verified July 3, 2026

In one sentenceRule 50 lets a party move for a directed verdict at trial, renew that motion after an adverse verdict as a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and gives the trial court a structured way to rule on a paired new-trial motion in case of reversal.

Full Text of Rule 50

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) When made; effect. – A party who moves for a directed verdict at the close of the evidence offered by an opponent may offer evidence in the event that the motion is not granted, without having reserved the right so to do and to the same extent as if the motion had not been made. A motion for a directed verdict which is not granted is not a waiver of trial by jury even though all parties to the action have moved for directed verdicts. A motion for a directed verdict shall state the specific grounds therefor. The order granting a motion for a directed verdict shall be effective without any assent of the jury.

(b) Motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. –

(1) Whenever a motion for a directed verdict made at the close of all the evidence is denied or for any reason is not granted, the submission of the action to the jury shall be deemed to be subject to a later determination of the legal questions raised by the motion. Not later than 10 days after entry of judgment, a party who has moved for a directed verdict may move to have the verdict and any judgment entered thereon set aside and to have judgment entered in accordance with his motion for a directed verdict; or if a verdict was not returned such party, within 10 days after the jury has been discharged, may move for judgment in accordance with his motion for a directed verdict. In either case the motion shall be granted if it appears that the motion for directed verdict could properly have been granted. A motion for a new trial may be joined with this motion, or a new trial may be prayed for in the alternative. If a verdict was returned the judge may allow the judgment to stand or may set aside the judgment and either order a new trial or direct the entry of judgment as if the requested verdict had been directed. If no verdict was returned the judge may direct the entry of judgment as if the requested verdict had been directed or may order a new trial. Not later than ten (10) days after entry of judgment or the discharge of the jury if a verdict was not returned, the judge on his own motion may, with or without further notice and hearing, grant, deny, or redeny a motion for directed verdict made at the close of all the evidence that was denied or for any reason was not granted.

(2) An appellate court, on finding that a trial judge should have granted a motion for directed verdict made at the close of all the evidence, may not direct entry of judgment in accordance with the motion unless the party who made the motion for a directed verdict also moved for judgment in accordance with Rule 50(b)(1) or the trial judge on his own motion granted, denied or redenied the motion for a directed verdict in accordance with Rule 50(b)(1).

(1) If the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, provided for in section (b) of this rule, is granted, the court shall also rule on the motion for 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 the new trial. If the motion for new trial is thus conditionally granted, the order thereon does not affect the finality of the judgment. In case the motion for new trial has been conditionally granted and the judgment is reversed on appeal, the new trial shall proceed unless the appellate division has otherwise ordered. In case the motion for new trial has been conditionally denied, the appellee on appeal may assert error in that denial; and if the judgment is reversed on appeal, subsequent proceedings shall be in accordance with the order of the appellate division.

(2) The party whose verdict has been set aside on motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict may serve a motion for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59 not later than 10 days after entry of the judgment notwithstanding the verdict.

(d) Motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict – Denial of motion. – If the motion for 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 division concludes that the trial court erred in denying the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. If the appellate division reverses the judgment, nothing in this rule precludes it 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.

End

Amendment History

(1967, c. 954, s. 1; 1969, c. 895, s. 11.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 50(a) lets a party move for a directed verdict at the close of an opponent's evidence without waiving the right to put on its own evidence if the motion is denied; a denied motion doesn't waive jury trial even if every party moved for one. The motion must state its specific grounds, and a granted directed verdict takes effect without the jury's assent.

Rule 50(b) covers judgment notwithstanding the verdict: when a directed-verdict motion made at the close of all the evidence is denied or otherwise not granted, the case still goes to the jury subject to later resolution of the legal question raised. Within 10 days of judgment (or, if no verdict was returned, within 10 days of the jury's discharge), the movant may move to set aside the verdict and judgment and have judgment entered under the original motion; the court must grant that motion if the directed verdict could properly have been granted, and a new-trial motion may be joined with it or made in the alternative. Depending on whether a verdict was returned, the judge may let the judgment stand, order a new trial, or direct entry of judgment as though the directed verdict had been granted, and the trial judge may also act on this within 10 days on the court's own initiative. Rule 50(b)(2) limits an appellate court's power to direct judgment in the movant's favor unless the movant also moved under Rule 50(b)(1) or the trial judge ruled on it.

Rule 50(c) requires the court, when granting a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, to also rule conditionally on any accompanying new-trial motion -- deciding whether it would be granted if the judgment were later vacated or reversed -- without affecting the judgment's finality; the rule spells out how that conditional ruling plays out on appeal depending on whether it conditionally granted or denied a new trial, and lets the party whose verdict was set aside separately move for a new trial under Rule 59 within 10 days of the judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Rule 50(d) lets the party who prevailed on a denied judgment-notwithstanding-the-verdict motion still assert new-trial grounds as appellee if the appellate division reverses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to a directed-verdict motion the trial judge doesn't grant at the close of all the evidence?

The case still goes to the jury, but the motion is treated as preserved for a later decision -- the movant can renew it as a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict within 10 days of judgment.

How long does a party have to move for judgment notwithstanding the verdict?

Not later than 10 days after entry of judgment, or, if no verdict was returned, within 10 days after the jury is discharged.

What must the court do when it grants a judgment notwithstanding the verdict?

Rule 50(c) requires it to also rule on any accompanying new-trial motion, deciding whether that motion would be granted if the judgment is later vacated or reversed on appeal.

Source & verification. The rule text and history citation are reproduced verbatim from the official North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 1A (N.C. R. Civ. P. 50). Enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly (S.L. 1967, c. 954, codified at N.C.G.S. § 1A-1). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 3, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: directed verdictmotion for judgment notwithstanding the verdictJNOVJMOLrenewed motion for directed verdictconditional ruling on new trial motion10 day deadline JNOV motionmotion for judgment notwithstanding verdict deadline