Which of the following is the first to occur: motion for new trial or motion for directed verdict?

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The motion for directed verdict occurs first among the choices provided in the context of a trial. This motion is typically made by a party during the trial, before the case is submitted to the jury. Essentially, it requests the court to rule that the opposing party has not presented sufficient evidence to warrant a jury's consideration, effectively asking the judge to direct a verdict in favor of the moving party.

In contrast, a motion for new trial is filed after the jury has rendered a verdict. It can be based on various grounds, including procedural errors or the discovery of new evidence that could influence the outcome of the case. Thus, the sequence is critical: motions concerning the verdict must happen during the trial, while a new trial motion occurs afterward.

Post-trial briefs and judgment as a matter of law, while related to the legal process, also occur after the trial phase, further reinforcing that the motion for directed verdict is the first to arise in the timeline of a trial.