This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
If you're fighting a motion for summary judgment but you don't have the evidence you need yet to prove your side, you can tell the judge why. Maybe the information you need is still in the other person's hands, or you haven't had a chance to take a deposition or gather documents yet. You explain this to the court through your own sworn statement (affidavit), laying out exactly what facts you need and why you can't get them right now.
If the judge agrees your reasons are valid, they have several options. The judge can deny the other side's request for summary judgment outright. Or the judge can pause the case for a while, giving you time to get the affidavits, take depositions, or complete other discovery you need. The judge can also make any other fair order that fits the situation.
This rule exists so that one side can't win a case just because the other side hasn't had a fair chance to gather their evidence yet. It gives you breathing room to build your case properly before the court decides whether to grant summary judgment against you.
