Stephen V. Wilson
How Judge Wilson rules, drawn from 7 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Wilson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Resolves right-of-publicity claims on the statute of limitations at summary judgment, granting the defendant judgment under California's two-year limit.
“ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT [73] ... Defendant is entitled to summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs’ claims.”
Procedural preferences
Dismisses federal claims with prejudice after an earlier chance to replead, then declines supplemental jurisdiction over the state-law claims.
“the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss WITH PREJUDICE as to Plaintiffs causes of action under federal law. ... Accordingly, the entire action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
Cautions
On ERISA long-term-disability cross-motions, applies deferential abuse-of-discretion review to a discretion-granting plan and grants the administrator summary judgment where it did not abuse its discretion.
“ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant Masterfoods now brings before the Court its Motion for Summary Judgment. For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion.”
“ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT”
“the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss WITH PREJUDICE as to Plaintiffs causes of action under federal law. ... Accordingly, the entire action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT [73] ... Defendant is entitled to summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs’ claims.”
“AMENDED ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY ADJUDICATION AS TO HER FIRST AND SECOND CAUSES OF ACTION FOR VIOLATION OF 42 U.S.C. § 1983”
“GRANTING INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE ISSUE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AS TO THE FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION [45][50]”
“ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND CO., NESTLE U.S.A., AND CAR-GILL INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS PLAINTIFFS’ FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6) FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM”
“Judgment shall be entered granting the Petition in part, and ordering Respondents to release Petitioner from detention immediately, subject to the conditions of his previous supervision.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed 2026 assignments are dominated by pending alien-detainee habeas petitions, with additional immigration, disability-access, consumer, patent, product-liability, and other civil matters. Five terminated matters in the refresh window were reviewed; four ended voluntarily, while Aakash Nepal obtained partial habeas relief and immediate release.
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