This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Once a case has finished discovery, any motions that could end the case early have been decided, and everyone agrees on what issues need to go to trial, the parties can ask the court to try a faster process called a summary jury trial. Both sides have to agree to this in writing before the court will consider it.
This means neither side can be forced into a summary jury trial. It only happens if both parties want to try it and put that agreement in writing. The court still gets to decide whether the case is a good fit for this process, but it won't happen without the parties' consent.
A summary jury trial is a quicker, less formal way to get a sense of how a jury might rule, often used to help both sides settle the case. By requiring discovery and other motions to be wrapped up first, the rule makes sure both sides already know the strengths and weaknesses of their case before trying this option.
