F. Owen Eagan
Judge Eagan no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Eagan decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Eagan denied summary judgment where the statute-of-repose defense turned on a material factual dispute about the product's useful safe life.
“Since this is a material question of fact, summary judgment is inappropriate.”
He treated intertwined foreclosure and specific-performance issues as a reason to keep the claims together during the administrative stay.
“the relief sought by the defendants in the form of specific performance is intertwined with the foreclosure action”
Procedural preferences
Eagan favored a dispositive motion after discovery over testing legal arguments before the pleadings and factual record were developed.
“The defendant’s legal arguments are best presented by filing a dispositive motion after the parties are afforded adequate time for discovery.”
After dismissing the federal claims in a removed case, he returned the remaining state-law claims to state court.
“Having dismissed all claims presenting federal questions, The Court remands this matter to the state court”
Cautions
Eagan admonished counsel against generic removal papers that did not fit the case-specific record.
“avoid boilerplate language where, as in this case, such language is not appropriate”
He warned that affidavits not based on personal knowledge could mislead the court and lead to sanctions.
“the submission of baseless ‘affidavits’ constitutes bad faith and tends to mislead the court.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the aforementioned reasons, the court denies plaintiff’s motion for fees under the EAJA as this request is untimely.”
“the defendants’ motion to remand (docket no. 12) is DENIED”
“the FDIC’s motion to stay (document no. 7) is GRANTED”
“the FDIC’s motion to sever the counterclaims (docket no. 6) is DENIED.”
“the plaintiffs’ applications for prejudgment remedy (document nos. 19 and 20) are GRANTED.”
“the defendant Messina’s motion to dismiss (docket no. 236) is GRANTED.”
“The counterclaim plaintiff New CBT’s motion for partial relief from stay (docket no. 262) is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s motion for severance (docket no. 260) is DENIED.”
“the petitioner’s amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus (document no. 11) and motion for summary judgment (document no. 18) are DENIED.”
“Accordingly, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED.”
“the plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Jury Demand is hereby granted.”
“Envirite’s motion to reopen and set aside the consent decree (document no. 22) is GRANTED.”
“this Court will not grant leave to sue.”
“The Motion to Reopen and Set Aside Summary Judgment of Strict Foreclosure (# 135-1, 135-2) is DENIED.”
“The FDIC’s Motion for Summary Judgment (# 25) is GRANTED.”
“Meriden Trust’s Motion for Summary Judgment (# 28) is DENIED.”
“The FDIC’s Motions for Summary Judgment (#46, 51) are GRANTED.”
“Defendant-Claimant Norman M. Steere’s Motion for Summary Judgment (# 60) is DENIED.”
“Defendant-Claimant M. James Geraghty’s Motion for Summary judgment (# 65) is DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed decisions span banking, foreclosure, civil rights, products liability, habeas, environmental, and fee disputes but do not establish the distribution of Eagan's full caseload.
A historical record
Judge Eagan 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.