Emory Marlin Sneeden
Judge Sneeden no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Sneeden decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Ties fee awards to the degree of success actually obtained rather than treating prevailing-party status as the end of the inquiry.
“The most critical factor in determining the amount of the award is the degree of success obtained.”
Keeps tort remedies within their statutory purpose instead of using them as a general vehicle to challenge agency policy.
“The purpose of the FTCA is to provide individuals with a means of obtaining tort damages from the United States for injuries negligently inflicted by U.S. employees or agents”
Procedural preferences
Requires a new trial when a successor judge resolves genuinely disputed facts through implicit credibility determinations.
“In light of the conflicting evidence on several disputed issues of fact, we find that the district court implicitly made credibility determinations and thus the case must be remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
Applies offensive collateral estoppel cautiously when the earlier ruling has not reached sufficient finality.
“We find that the doctrine of collateral estoppel was applied prematurely in this case.”
Cautions
Treats helpfulness to the factfinder as the central test for admitting expert testimony.
““Helpfulness is the touchstone of Rule 702.””
Enforces litigation-management orders when a party refuses concrete steps required to prosecute the case.
“Mears was instructed to take specific steps to prosecute the action and he refused to comply.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
A historical record
Judge Sneeden 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.