Ellen Lucille Bree Burns
Judge Burns no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Burns decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
She allowed a municipal-liability claim to proceed where pleaded facts could support an inference of deliberate indifference.
“Because the fourth count alleges facts from which a jury might reasonably infer that the City had a ‘custom or policy’ that caused a violation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights, the motion to dismiss must be denied.”
Cautions
She sharply criticized counsel whose persistent hostility lengthened and complicated a trial.
“The ceaseless bickering between counsel caused what was originally envisioned to be a six-day trial to devour sixteen trial days.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Based upon the foregoing discussion, defendant’s motion to dismiss pendent claim is denied.”
“IT IS ORDERED that all proceedings in this court are stayed pending completion of arbitration and that all claims before this court in the instant action be submitted to arbitration.”
“The renewed petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied.”
“The bankruptcy court’s ruling granting plaintiffs’ motion for relief from stay is hereby affirmed.”
“Defendant shall pay the following attorneys’ fees in this action: Attorney Hodgson, $39,570.00; Attorney Spivak, $12,750.00; Linda Grossberg (paralegal), $3,390.00.”
“For the reasons stated above, the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint is granted.”
“The summons is enforced, and respondent shall provide the information at a date and time established by Revenue Agent Thompson.”
“Respondent’s motion for a protective order is granted.”
“Ralph Smith’s petition to quash the three remaining third-party summonses is denied.”
“Said three summonses are hereby enforced.”
“Accordingly, the motion to quash the subpoena duces tecum is denied.”
“The petition to enforce the I.R.S. summons is denied without prejudice to reissuance with the requisite notice.”
“The defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“Accordingly, the motion to dismiss the fourth count of the complaint is denied.”
A historical record
Judge Burns 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.