Stephen Mathew Reasoner
Judge Reasoner no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Reasoner decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He looked past labels and focused on whether a plan administrator's decision was within the bounds of reasonableness.
“This Court cannot say that the Committee’s decision was extraordinarily imprudent or extremely unreasonable.”
He treated the products' real-world presentation as decisive when abstract similarity did not create consumer confusion.
“the Court cannot fathom a potential customer confusing the two companies' products based solely upon the similarity in the actual wording of the marks.”
He found due-process liability where officers were disciplined after relying on an official interpretation of the governing rule.
“such discipline violated plaintiffs’ rights guaranteed under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”
Procedural preferences
He enforced the local requirement that emergency motions be supported by a separate brief.
“For this reason alone, the Court is justified in denying Mr. Cotton’s motion.”
He expected parties to support novel legal propositions with actual authority.
“Plaintiffs have not provided this Court with the slightest modicum of support for this proposition.”
At the pleading stage, he read allegations generously and drew reasonable inferences for the nonmoving party.
“a court must read the facts alleged in the complaint ‘generously’ drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the party opposing the motion.”
Cautions
He would not entertain an unpleaded theory introduced late through briefing.
“Therefore, the Court will not consider this argument at this late stage in these proceedings.”
Emergency relief failed when the claimed harms did not establish irreparable injury.
“Mr. Cotton has failed to convince the Court that he will suffer irreparable harm by facing prosecution in municipal court under the Arkansas two-tier scheme.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“It is, therefore, ORDERED that defendants’ and the intervenor’s motions for summary judgment and to dismiss are granted, and plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment is denied.”
“Defendants’ pending motion to strike plaintiffs’ demand for a jury trial is now moot.”
“Accordingly, plaintiff's and in-tervenor Independent Bankers’ request for declaratory and injunctive relief is granted.”
“It is further ORDERED that defendants are enjoined from approving the establishment of branch banks in violation of state branch banking laws.”
“The motions to dismiss filed on behalf of defendants FDIC and the Comptroller are denied.”
“The Court does not believe that an award of damages for this violation is appropriate.”
“Rather, Continental Cuisine will be enjoined from failing to keep and preserve accurate and complete records in the future.”
“Accordingly, the Courts finds as follows: In favor of plaintiff Tommy Wicker and against the defendant Tommy L. Goodwin in his individual capacity”
“The defendant is also ordered to pay $5,518.75 in attorney’s fees and $500 in costs to the plaintiffs jointly.”
“Additionally, the defendant Tommy L. Goodwin, both individually and in his official capacity, is hereby enjoined from entering or maintaining any notation or record of the disciplinary action previously taken pursuant to Ark.Code Ann. § 12-8-205 against plaintiffs Tommy Wicker, Larry Jackson, and Mel Hensley, as such action was taken in violation of plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.”
“For these reasons, Gold Seal's Motion for Summary Judgment (# 59) is granted, and the Scent Shop's trademark infringement claim is dismissed.”
“Based upon recent case law and the NRA it is clear that the contract versus common carriage, unreasonable practice, and rate reasonableness issues should be referred to the ICC.”
“For the reasons hereinafter stated, the Motion to Dismiss is granted in part and denied in part.”
“Further, because of the Court’s ruling on the Motion to Dismiss, the Motion to Strike Jury Trial is granted.”
“It is, therefore ORDERED that defendants’ motion for summary judgment and/or alternative motion to compel arbitration is granted and plaintiffs complaint is dismissed with prejudice.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is granted. Judgment will be entered accordingly.”
“For the reasons stated, Plaintiffs Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction is denied in its entirety.”
“Therefore, to the extent Movants seek this Court to declare Amended General Order No. 22 and the procedures of the Clerk’s office unconstitutional, the Court denies the relief they seek.”
“The Court finds the Plan administrator’s decision to allow complete recovery of the $129,237.85 is not arbitrary and capricious.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 88.5 days (N = 20).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 58 days (N = 2).
The twenty recent archival dockets span prisoner matters, fraud, foreclosure, benefits, labor, contract, insurance, and other civil cases. This is a recent closed-case slice rather than a complete tenure-wide census.
A historical record
Judge Reasoner no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.