Charles Alvin Jones

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1939–1966 Appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) 25 signed orders read

Judge Jones no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Jones decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

Focuses seaman status on the employee’s actual duties and the conditions under which those duties were performed.

“The determining factors were the duties he was called upon to perform and the circumstances under which he was required to perform them.”

Treats an innocent, technical conversion differently when the seller acted in good faith and fully accounted for the proceeds.

“But, assuming for the purpose of this appeal that the bank’s sale of the plaintiff’s stock amounted to a conversion, the question still remains, — was the conversion innocently committed and, hence, purely technical ?”

Procedural preferences

Preserves a jury verdict where the evidence was legally sufficient, directing entry of judgment rather than another trial.

“The judgment for the defendant is reversed and the case remanded to the District Court with directions to enter judgment on the verdict for the plaintiff.”

Retains bankruptcy jurisdiction while a state probate court determines whether the annuitants possess enforceable claims.

“the case is remanded with directions to the District Court to retain jurisdiction of the proceeding for the reorganization of the debtor in bankruptcy”

Cautions

Treats the statutory limit on a compensation officer’s authority as jurisdictional and orders dismissal when the claimant falls outside the Act.

“dismiss the proceeding for want of jurisdiction in the deputy commissioner.”

Requires a taxpayer personally liable on secured debt to await foreclosure before fixing the deductible loss.

“the property continues until foreclosure sale to have some value which, when determined by the sale, bears directly upon the extent of the owner’s liability for a deficiency judgment.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Zurich v. Cardillo
· 1944-06-16
Appeal (insurance-carrier appellants) Moot / procedural

“Accordingly, the judgments of the District Court are reversed without costs and the cause remanded to the District Court with directions to dismiss the proceeding for want of jurisdiction in the deputy commissioner.”

Atlantic Refining Co. v. The Laura Maersk
· 1942-10-21
Appeal (vessel-owner appellants) Granted

“The decree of the District Court is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.”

Cooperstown Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Rev.
· 1944-08-30
Appeal (taxpayer petitioner) Denied

“The decision of the Board of Tax Appeals is affirmed.”

Lennig v. New York Life Ins.
· 1942-09-04
Appeal (beneficiary plaintiff appellant) Granted

“The judgment for the defendant is reversed and the case remanded to the District Court with directions to enter judgment on the verdict for the plaintiff.”

In Re Meckley
· 1943-07-22
Appeal (contemnor appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”

Berwind-White Coal Mining Co. v. Rothensies
· 1943-06-17
Appeal (taxpayer plaintiff appellant) Granted

“The judgment of the District Court is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.”

In re Barber
· 1944-01-31
Appeal (creditor appellant) Denied

“The order of the District Court is affirmed.”

Bell v. Commissioner
· 1943-11-30
Appeal (taxpayer petitioner) Granted

“The decision of the Tax Court is reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this • opinion.”

Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Green
· 1942-02-10
Appeal (Commissioner of Internal Revenue petitioner) Granted

“The decision of the Board of Tax Appeals is reversed.”

Favini v. Van Dyke
· 1940-05-13
Appeal (trust-estate appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”

Hadley v. Baltimore & O. R.
· 1941-06-12
Appeal (injured plaintiff appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”

Roskos v. United States
· 1942-09-04
Appeal (insurance beneficiary appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”

A historical record

Judge Jones 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.