In what situation would a "directed verdict" typically be used?

A directed verdict is typically used in a situation where the evidence presented at trial is overwhelmingly one-sided, to the extent that no reasonable jury could come to a different conclusion based on that evidence. This legal motion allows the judge to take the decision out of the jury's hands, effectively stating that the party with the burden of proof has met that burden in such a significant manner that a reasonable jury would not be able to find otherwise.

Such a verdict is often sought by defendants in civil cases or by plaintiffs in criminal cases, depending on the context and the nature of the evidence presented. It serves to expedite legal proceedings when the merit of a case becomes starkly clear, thereby preventing a jury from unnecessary deliberation in circumstances where the outcome is virtually predetermined by the evidence.