Rule 1-050. Judgment as a matter of law in jury trials; alternative motion for new trial; conditional rulings.

A. Judgment as a matter of law. (1) If a party has been fully heard on an issue during a jury trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for the party on that issue, the court may (a) resolve the issue against the party; and (b) grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue. (2) A motion for judgment as a matter of law may be made at any time before the case is submitted to the jury. The motion must specify the judgment sought and the law and facts that entitle the movant to the judgment. B. Renewing the motion after trial; alternative motion for a new trial. If the court does not grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law made under Paragraph A of this rule, the court is considered to have submitted the action to the jury subject to the court’s later deciding the legal questions raised by the motion. The movant may renew its request for judgment as a matter of law by filing a motion no later than thirty (30) days after the entry of judgment or - if the motion addresses a jury issue not decided by a verdict - no later than thirty (30) days after the jury was discharged. The movant may alternatively request a new trial or join a motion for a new trial under Rule 1-059 NMRA. In ruling on a renewed motion, the court may, (1) if a verdict was returned, (a) allow the judgment to stand; (b) order a new trial; or (c) direct entry of judgment as a matter of law; or (2) if no verdict was returned, (a) order a new trial; or (b) direct entry of judgment as a matter of law. C. Granting renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law; conditional rulings; new trial motion. (1) If the renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law 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 the new trial. If the motion for a new trial is thus conditionally granted, the order thereon does not affect the finality of the judgment. In case 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 has otherwise ordered. In case the motion for a 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 court. (2) Any motion for a new trial under Rule 1-059 NMRA by a party against whom judgment as a matter of law is rendered shall be filed no later than thirty (30) days after entry of the judgment. D. Denial of motion for judgment as a matter of law. If the motion for judgment as a matter of law is denied, the party who prevailed on that motion may, as appellee, assert grounds entitling the party to a new trial in the event the appellate court concludes that the trial court erred in denying the motion for judgment. If the appellate court 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.