Walter Irving McCoy
Judge McCoy no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge McCoy decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He accepted long, consistently safe use of a non-obviously-dangerous design as evidence supporting reasonable care.
“as a general rule when an appliance or structure not obviously dangerous has been in daily use for years, and has uniformly proved adequate and safe, its use may be continued without the imputation of culpable imprudence or carelessness.”
He took judicial notice that ergonomically shaped tool handles were old and varied when assessing claimed patent novelty.
“The court will take judicial notice of the fact that tool handles designed to fit the hands are very old and of infinite variety”
Cautions
He held a plaintiff to the statutory-bond theory expressly pleaded rather than recasting the instrument as a voluntary bond.
“the declaration counts specifically upon a statutory bond.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The decision of the Assistant Commissioner of Patents is affirmed.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is affirmed. Affirmed.”
“The decision of the Commissioner of Patents is reversed, and the clerk is directed to certify these proceedings as by law required.”
A historical record
Judge McCoy 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.