John L. Badalamenti

Requires judicial approval of FLSA settlements under Lynn's Food even when the parties represent the claim was settled in full without compromise and fees were negotiated separately; strikes a Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) stipulation of dismissal filed to sidestep that review.

“this Court holds that the parties to a FLSA settlement must submit their settlement agreement for court approval, even when the parties represent that the plaintiff’s FLSA claims have not been compromised by the settlement and the attorney’s fees have been negotiated separately.”

Summary-judgment briefing must direct the court to specific record support. In Lussier, Badalamenti warned that a party cannot cite dozens of largely unexplained exhibits and expect the judge to search a 1,500-page record for a winning theory.

“district court judges are not required to ferret out delectable facts buried in a massive record.”

In RV Kountry, he denied another amendment after the plaintiff's revised pleading still identified neither an unconscionable banking term nor a legal duty supporting negligence.

“After careful consideration, the Court has determined that RV Kountry can present no set of facts to survive another motion to dismiss.”

In the reviewed federal-policy challenge, the court denied amendment because the proposed pleading would not cure mootness after the challenged requirements were revoked.

“proposed Second Amended Complaint would not cure the issue of mootness”

In Sanguinetti, the court denied reconsideration of summary judgment where the movant repeated old arguments and raised a new theory available before judgment.

“A party may not make new arguments that could have been raised prior to judgment in a motion for reconsideration.”

In Macro Electronics, the court rejected reconsideration because the plaintiffs had not identified evidence that an asset transfer occurred, so further fraudulent-transfer factors did not affect summary judgment.

“the Court had no need to reach those factors.”

In a jail civil rights case, proof that the inmate used the grievance kiosk repeatedly and did not appeal the denied housing grievance defeated his claim that the grievance process was unavailable; the case was dismissed without prejudice.

“By failing to appeal the denial of this grievance, Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies on his housing assignment claim.”

In a traffic stop civil rights case, two prior incidents across six years did not establish the persistent practice required for agency liability.

“Two incidents over a period of six years are insufficient to establish a custom or policy of constitutional violations.”

In FiCare’s emergency injunction request, Badalamenti denied relief that would have required a new fraud-review system instead of preserving the parties’ existing arrangement.

“Because FiCare requests relief beyond the status quo, its motion should be denied.”

In Plaza Beach, Badalamenti denied preliminary relief against a beach-sign ordinance after the applicants delayed seeking an injunction and showed no imminent enforcement injury. He left the ordinance’s ultimate validity undecided.

“Plaintiffs’ delay in seeking a preliminary injunction weighs heavily against the finding of irreparable harm.”