William H. Hastie
How Judge Hastie rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Hastie no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Hastie decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He read statutory venue provisions in light of their structure and practical purpose, using the most coherent implication when the text did not expressly designate a forum.
“Therefore, in the absence of any affirmative indication to the contrary, we think this logical implication is our best guide to what the state and the corporation had in view.”
A shareholder cannot obtain personal standing from economic harm suffered by the corporation, because that would erase the distinction between direct and derivative claims.
“were the rule otherwise the distinction between a stockholder’s derivative claim and a claim exercised in his primary right would disappear,”
Voluntary employer recognition does not interfere with employee choice when a clear, uncoerced majority has already shown its desire for that union's representation.
“where a clear majority of the employees, without subjection to coercion or other unlawful influence, have made manifest their desire to be represented by a particular union, there is no factual basis for a contention that the employer’s action thereafter in recognizing the union or contracting with it is an. interference with their freedom of choice.”
He rejects a misbranding theory when the challenged prescription-drug labeling is neither false nor misleading to anyone, while recognizing that misuse can be addressed through other statutory safeguards.
“we are content to base our affirmance of these judgments upon the circumstance that the challenged labeling is in fact not false and not misleading to anyone.”
Procedural preferences
He enforced appellate jurisdiction as a threshold limit and dismissed an appeal where the designated order was not appealable.
“The appeal will be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.”
Cautions
He treated compliance with the governing civil procedure as outcome-determinative and would reverse an otherwise entertained application when the proper pleading route was not followed.
“The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded with instructions to dismiss the application for failure to comply with the applicable rules of civil procedure.”
The federal government must respect a binding state-court judgment in rem when the state court had jurisdiction over the property.
“The United States, like any other litigant, must respect the binding force of this judgment in rem by a court with jurisdiction over the res.”
Res judicata bars a later restitution theory that was relevant and could have been raised when the same integrated transaction was before the first court.
“Certainly they did have relevancy and could have been advanced.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgment will be affirmed.”
“The cause will be remanded to the district court with instructions to modify the judgment by reducing the recovery allowed under the Wrongful Death Act from $35,393.87 to $31,893.87 and the total recovery from $48,887.87 to $45,-387.87; and as thus modified the judgment shall stand affirmed.”
“The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.”
“The several convictions will be reversed; with directions to enter judgments of acquittal as to Benjamin Weiss, Irvin Katz, Walter Lowenfels and Sherman Labovitz, but with leave to take such further proceedings as to Joseph Kuzma, Joseph Roberts, David Davis, Thomas Nabried and Robert Klonsky as may be consistent with this opinion.”
“The order denying the appellant O. Steinman, Inc., relief under Rule 60(b) and the judgment entered against the appellant United Bonding Insurance Co. as surety for Steinman’s payment of the judgment of February 23, 1961, will both be affirmed.”
“The judgment will be affirmed.”
“The judgment will be affirmed.”
“The order of the Commission will be affirmed.”
“The appeal will be dismissed for want of jurisdiction.”
“The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
A historical record
Judge Hastie 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.