Why did the lawsuit go on a diet?

This joke hinges on a classic comedic device: wordplay, specifically a pun. The humor comes from the double meaning of the word "motions." In the context of a diet, "motions" might refer to physical movement or exercise, which a lawsuit certainly wouldn't be doing. However, in the legal world, "motions" are formal requests made to a court by a party in a lawsuit, asking the judge to make a specific ruling or order.

In the real world of litigation, a single lawsuit can indeed generate a staggering number of "motions." Lawyers file motions for all sorts of reasons: to dismiss a case, to compel discovery, to exclude evidence, or even to request a summary judgment. Each of these requires court time and attention, much like too many rich foods can weigh down a diet. The joke cleverly takes this legal reality and overlays it with the everyday concept of dieting, creating a lighthearted jab at the often-complex and motion-heavy nature of legal proceedings.