Frederic Dodge
Judge Dodge no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Dodge decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Treats commercial acceptance in an appearance-sensitive market as evidence supporting artistic invention in a design patent.
“the design shows a patentable degree of artistic invention”
Recognizes that repairing an instrumentality used in interstate traffic may itself constitute work in interstate commerce.
“One engaged in repairing an instrumentality of interstate commerce may be engaged in such commerce.”
Procedural preferences
Uses a conditional discharge to preserve administrative responsibility while requiring a timely hearing on lawful evidence.
“the one best calculated to secure proper administration of the legislative provisions applicable.”
Disregards evidentiary objections when counsel did not state a ground at the time of objection.
“That objections for which no ground is so stated may be disregarded is a familiar rule in the federal courts.”
Cautions
Defers to a bankruptcy court's credibility finding when the record supports rejecting a debtor's claimed inability to remember material transactions.
“he could not have been honestly incapable of remembering the facts regarding those dealings”
Enforces an insurance warranty according to its recognized legal effect when legislation has not changed the governing rule.
“the court has no choice but to give the breach of warranty proved its recognized effect and exonerate the insurer.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, and the appellee recovers his costs of appeal.”
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, and the defendant in error recovers costs in this court.”
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, with interest, and the defendant in error recovers his costs on appeal.”
“The judgment of the District Court is reversed, and the case is remanded to that court for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.”
“The decree of the District Court is affirmed, and the appellee recovers its costs of appeal.”
“The decree of the District Court is affirmed, and the appellee recovers its costs of appeal.”
“Let there be a decree affirming the order of the District Court, with costs for the respondents.”
“The decree of the District Court is affirmed, and the case remanded to that court for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion; and the appellee recovers costs in this court.”
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, and the appellee recovers costs in this court.”
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, and the appellee recovers its costs of appeal.”
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed, with interest, and'the defendant in error recovers costs in this court.”
A historical record
Judge Dodge 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.