Beyond The Verdict: Navigating Post Trial Motions

Introduction

The jury has spoken, and the verdict is in. After days or weeks of presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and advocating for your client, the trial phase may be over—but the case is not. Whether you prevailed and need to protect the judgment, or you came up short and are evaluating avenues to challenge the result, the period immediately following trial is often one of the most consequential stages of the litigation.

For the prevailing party, post‑trial motions are an opportunity to preserve the verdict, correct technical issues in the judgment, and ensure the record supports enforcement and appeal. For the losing party, those same motions may provide a critical chance to address legal or factual errors, preserve appellate complaints, or—in some cases—obtain meaningful relief from the trial court itself. In either posture, strategic post‑trial motion practice can shape what happens next, in both the trial court and on appeal. Indeed, in addition