Nathanael M. Cousins
How Judge Cousins decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
He scrutinizes removal jurisdiction on his own motion and will recommend remand of an improperly-removed case (here, a state criminal matter removed by a pro se defendant).
“found that this case was improperly removed ... orders this case remanded to the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara.”
Cautions
Cousins enforces procedural deadlines strictly: repeated missed deadlines, failure to oppose motions, and disregard of his orders and the Local Rules will draw a recommendation to dismiss for failure to prosecute.
“the Court hereby ADOPTS the Report to dismiss Plaintiffs' case for failure to prosecute.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court hereby ADOPTS the Report to dismiss Plaintiffs' case for failure to prosecute. ... The Clerk shall close the case file.”
“The Court agrees with Magistrate Judge Cousins' well-reasoned report and recommendation, which found that this case was improperly removed ... The Court consequently adopts the report and recommendation in full, and orders this case remanded to the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara.”
“the Court hereby OVERRULES Plaintiff's objections, ADOPTS the Report, and GRANTS Plaintiff's Amended Application for Default Judgment.”
“The Court has reviewed Judge Nathanael Cousins' Report and Recommendation to Dismiss the Case and notes there are no objections to the Report. The Court adopts the Report in every respect. Accordingly, the case is dismissed.”
“the Court ... adopts it in every respect. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' motion for attorneys' fees is granted and Plaintiffs are entitled to $25,163.60 in attorneys' fees. Plaintiffs' request for costs is denied.”
“Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the County’s Motion for Summary Judgment and DENIES Gentry’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.”
“Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s ninth claim and claims against CoStar, Compel Arbitration, and Stay Claims is GRANTED. Because the Court finds that it would be futile, leave to amend is denied.”
“Accordingly, the Court grants Defendants’ motion and compels Plaintiff’s claims to arbitration.”
“The Court GRANTS Defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint.”
“Further, the Court GRANTS Walmart’s motion for summary judgment as to all claims.”
“In conclusion, the Court DENIES Prakash’s motion for clarification and his Rule”
“The Court DENIES Defendant’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ FAL, CLRA, UCL, and quasi-contract/unjust enrichment claims in the third amended complaint.”
“Therefore, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss with leave to amend.”
“DENIES Defendants’ motion to strike Plaintiffs’ punitive damages claim.”
“Accordingly, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiff’s motion and remands the case for additional proceedings.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sample covers cases filed in late 2021 and 2022. As an initially assigned San Jose magistrate judge, Cousins handles False Claims Act, disability-access, labor, civil-rights, insurance, contract, personal-injury, immigration, copyright, habeas, and subpoena matters. The durations measure filing to termination, not motion-to-ruling time.
Put Judge Cousins's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Cousins actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Cousins's own signed orders and cites them.