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Why do many civil lawsuits end during the pretrial stage?

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Mosaic portrait of Emperor Justinian I with a jeweled crown and halo, from the 6th-century Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. — Procedural law Justinian I, detail of a 6th-century mosaic at the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.

Many civil lawsuits conclude during the pretrial stage because modern procedural systems are designed to resolve disputes efficiently before they reach a full trial. This occurs primarily through two mechanisms:

Pretrial Adjudication: Courts may decide cases on purely legal grounds without needing to examine disputed facts. Parties can file motions—such as a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction or a summary judgment—to resolve the case early if one side lacks evidence on a critical issue or if the claim is legally insufficient.12
Discovery and Settlement: The discovery process allows parties to exchange information, which helps them recognize the true value of their claims and exposes the weakness of insubstantial cases. This transparency often encourages parties to reach a settlement voluntarily. Additionally, judges may use pretrial conferences to narrow the issues in dispute, which can simplify the case or lead to a resolution that makes a trial unnecessary.341

These procedures ensure that judicial resources are focused on cases that genuinely require a formal hearing.34