What pleadings would a court look at in ruling on a motion for judgement on the pleadings?

• A. All pleadings that have been filed
• B. Only the complaint
• C. The complaint and attached exhibits
• D. The complaint and answers

Answer: (A)

Judgment on the pleadings is decided strictly from what is on file in the pleadings. The court assesses all pleadings that have been filed up to that point—the complaint, the answer, and any other pleadings or replies that are part of the record (including exhibits attached to those pleadings). No extra evidence is considered, only what the parties have formally pleaded.

That’s why taking in all pleadings filed is the best answer: it captures the full scope of what the court may rely on to determine whether, on the face of the pleadings, there is a basis for judgment as a matter of law. Narrow options fall short because they omit parts of the pleadings that could affect the ruling, such as defenses or counterclaims raised in the answer or other later pleadings.