William Duane Benton
How Judge Benton rules, drawn from 43 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Benton decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A narrow public-policy exception to at-will employment did not apply when the cited authorities did not clearly prohibit the employer's conduct.
“The public policy exception is ‘narrow.’ Id. at 93. After de novo review, this court agrees with the district court that Dubuque failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted because the manuals he cites do not clearly prohibit him from being debriefed in a SAP facility.”
Plain policy language controlled even when the insured argued that the resulting lack of coverage was unreasonable; ambiguity could not be inserted to create coverage.
“Castillo’s acts are not covered by the plain and ordinary meaning of the insurance policy here. See Engineering & Const. Innovations, Inc. v. L.H. Bolduc Co., 825 N.W.2d 695, 705 (Minn. 2013) (‘[W]e will not “read an ambiguity into the plain language of a policy in order to provide coverage.”’)”
Procedural preferences
A related municipal-liability claim could not proceed without a plausibly alleged underlying constitutional violation.
“Because Partridge and Schweikle failed to allege a Fourteenth Amendment violation, their related Monell claims were properly dismissed.”
An appellate claim was waived when omitted from the statement of issues and mentioned only briefly.
“Because Mahler’s brief does not include this claim in the statement of issues and mentioned it only briefly, she has waived this issue.”
The statutory 30-day deadline for seeking review of a removal order is a mandatory claim-processing rule that the court would not equitably toll.
“Section 1252(b)(1)’s plain text and statutory scheme rebut the presumption of equitable tolling.”
Cautions
A disparate-treatment complaint needed facts showing that the selected comparator was similarly situated and went through a comparable reinstatement process.
“Jones did not plead any facts showing that candidate was similarly situated or went through a reinstatement process. Her threadbare allegation does not survive a motion to dismiss.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“This judgment is reversed and the case remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“Hill's conviction was not untimely. ... The judgment is affirmed.”
“Sufficient evidence supported the jury's verdict that Bear Runner intended to defraud, steal, and embezzle.”
“Fex's requirement of 'actual delivery forecloses ... constructive delivery.'”
“The room with the firearms immediately adjoined the area at the bottom of the stairs. The protective sweep complied with the Fourth Amendment. ... The judgment is affirmed.”
“This court's precedent forecloses these arguments. See United States v. Jackson, 110 F.4th 1120, 1125 (8th Cir. 2024) (holding post-Rahimi that 'there is no need for felony-by-felony litigation regarding the constitutionality of 922(g)(1)').”
“Clark's facial challenge is defeated by controlling precedent. See United States v. Veasley, 98 F.4th 906, 918 (8th Cir. 2024) ... A guilty plea forecloses Clark's as-applied constitutional challenge. ... The judgment is affirmed.”
“Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(d)(2), this court reverses.”
“The record here is not conclusive. ... The judgment is reversed and the case remanded.”
“This court affirms in part, reverses in part, and remands.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Circuit judges do not carry a trial caseload; not enumerated. Benton's pre-federal judicial service was on the Missouri Supreme Court (a state court, not in the federal docket record).
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