California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from McMenamin v. Cooley Constr., Inc., E070836, E072458 (Cal. App. 2020):
"The standard of review for a nonsuit after conclusion of the opening statement is well settled. Both the trial court in its initial decision and the appellate court on review of that decision must accept all facts asserted in the opening statement as true and must indulge every legitimate inference which may be drawn from those facts. [Citations.] A nonsuit at this early stage of the proceedings is disfavored. [Citation.] It can only be upheld on appeal if, after accepting all the asserted facts as true and indulging every legitimate inference in favor of plaintiff, it can be said those facts and inferences lead inexorably to the conclusion plaintiff cannot establish an essential element of its cause of action or has inadvertently established uncontrovertible proof of an affirmative defense. [Citations.]" (Abeyta v. Superior Court (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 1037, 1041.)
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