Seth Thomas
Judge Thomas no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Thomas decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Thomas read written contracts according to their literal terms even when the result seemed unreasonable.
“The contract in this case must be construed literally and as it reads without regard to the reasonableness of the result.”
He used the parties' own course of performance to resolve language that could bear two meanings.
“A contract is ambiguous when it is susceptible of two different meanings.”
Procedural preferences
He deferred to trial-court fact findings when conflicting testimony was reasonably susceptible to the trial court's interpretation.
“The court saw and heard the witnesses, and its findings are conclusive.”
He required bankruptcy rulings to rest on both proof and findings addressing each essential element.
“In the absence of such proof and of such finding it was error to hold the mortgage invalid to the extent of $165 and to deny the prayer of the petition for reclamation.”
Cautions
He resisted repetitive collateral litigation after a prisoner had already received a hearing on the same underlying claim.
“The appellant has had his day in court upon the issue of coercion, and the judgment can not be reversed simply because the appellant has presently changed his mind”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgment is, therefore, reversed, and the case remanded with instructions to enter judgment and to proceed in accordance with this opinion.”
“Reversed with instructions to vacate the judgment for appellee and to dismiss the complaint with costs.”
“The judgment appealed from is accordingly affirmed.”
“It follows that the order and judgment appealed from must be, and it is, affirmed.”
“The order denying the writ is, therefore, affirmed.”
“The order appealed from . is, therefore, affirmed.”
“Therefore, the judgment appealed from must be, and it is, affirmed.”
“The order appealed from is accordingly affirmed.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Thomas 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.