A more thorough explanation:

The scintilla-of-evidence rule is a legal principle that states that if there is even a small amount of relevant evidence on an issue, then a motion for summary judgment or directed verdict cannot be granted, and the issue must go to the jury. This rule is followed in some states, but not in federal courts.

For example, let's say that a person is suing their employer for wrongful termination. The employer files a motion for summary judgment, arguing that there is no evidence to support the employee's claim. However, if the employee can provide even a small amount of evidence, such as a witness statement or an email, that supports their claim, then the scintilla-of-evidence rule would prevent the court from granting the motion and would require the issue to go to trial.

Another example could be a personal injury case where the defendant argues that there is no evidence to support the plaintiff's claim that they were injured in a car accident. However, if the plaintiff can provide even a small amount of evidence, such as medical records or testimony from a doctor, that supports their claim, then the scintilla-of-evidence rule would require the issue to go to trial.

These examples illustrate how the scintilla-of-evidence rule can prevent a case from being dismissed before it goes to trial, even if there is only a small amount of evidence to support the plaintiff's claim.