Oren Harris
Judge Harris no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Harris decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A civil-rights claim survived dismissal where the alleged deprivation required testimony and factual development.
“raises a question that can be determined only by testimony as to the privileges or immunities secured by the Constitution.”
He allowed a latent-damage claim to proceed where reasonable doubt remained about when the limitations period began.
“If there is any reasonable doubt in a statute of limitations problem, the Court will resolve the question in favor of the complaint standing and against the challenge.”
Procedural preferences
He treated fact-intensive insurance bad-faith issues as matters for trial rather than summary disposition on an incomplete record.
“This is a fact intensive question for the jury to decide.”
He applied the liberal amendment standard where changing the plaintiff’s representative capacity caused no factual change or unfairness.
“Leave to amend pleadings should be freely given and is encouraged when justice so requires.”
Cautions
He used Rule 11 to deter pleading abuse but declined monetary sanctions at an early stage.
“The primary goal in the application of Rule 11 is to deter pleading and motion abuses.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“It is, therefore, considered, ordered . and adjudged that the motion to dismiss the complaint herein be and the same is hereby overruled.”
“It appearing to the Court that this cause of action has been properly removed here, plaintiffs’ motion to remand is denied.”
“Therefore, the Court concludes that Lake Hamilton is part of the navigable waters of the United States over which this Court has admiralty and maritime jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 1333. The respondents motion to dismiss is denied.”
“Accordingly, the motion for summary judgment shall be granted.”
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, AND ADJUDGED that defendants’ Motion to Dismiss should be and the same is hereby granted.”
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, AND ADJUDGED that the Motion for Summary Judgment filed on behalf of the International Woodworkers of America, AFL-CIO, Local 5-475, be and the same is hereby granted. The complaint of plaintiff Charles Johnson is hereby dismissed with prejudice as to the defendant Union.”
“Therefore, under the above cited precedents, the Court can only grant GP’s Motion for Summary Judgment and enter Judgment as a matter of law for GP on the complaint.”
“The Court will, therefore, grant defendants’ motion for summary judgment and dismiss plaintiff’s complaint with prejudice.”
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, AND ADJUDGED that the motions for summary judgment filed by Certainteed and Sto-Cote be and the same are hereby denied as a matter of law.”
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, AND ADJUDGED that the motion for summary judgment filed by defendant Ashley County be and the same is hereby granted insofar as it relates to tort liability and punitive damages on the part of the county, and that portions of plaintiff's complaint making such assertions as against the county be and the same are hereby dismissed. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment filed by defendant Ashley County be and the same is hereby denied as to allegations raised under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.”
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, AND ADJUDGED that the motion for summary judgment filed by defendant International Paper Company be and the same is hereby granted.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiffs’ motion for leave to depose Mr. Cecil Counts be and the same is hereby denied as moot.”
“IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED, ORDERED, AND ADJUDGED that defendant’s motion for summary judgment be and the same is hereby denied.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 108 days (N = 1).
The located historical dockets include employment civil rights, insurance, contracts, fraud, foreclosure, product liability, medical malpractice, and prisoner cases. The small docket probe is not a career-wide caseload estimate.
A historical record
Judge Harris 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.