Roy Bale Dalton Jr.

How Judge Dalton rules, drawn from 21 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Appointed by
Barack Obama (Democratic)
Commissioned
2011-05-03
Education
University of Florida (B.A., High Honors, 1974); University of Florida College of Law (now Fredric G. Levin College of Law) (J.D., 1976)
Signed orders read
21

How Judge Dalton decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

In immigration-detention cases, he distinguishes between noncitizens seeking admission at the border under 8 U.S.C. § 1225 and those already present in the country under § 1226. When the government offers no lawful basis for detention under the applicable statute, he treats immediate release and tailored injunctive relief as available habeas remedies rather than requiring continued custody while awaiting a later hearing.

“In sum, this Court joins the many, many others to conclude that mandatory detention under § 1225 does not apply to noncitizens who are already present in this country.”

In Blaine, detailed medical-staff bylaws plausibly supplied a protected property interest and made the absence of the promised pre-termination process material to the physicians' due-process claim.

“A fundamental principle of procedural due process is that a person be given a pre-termination hearing prior to being deprived of any significant property interest.”

In Sotolongo, Dalton rejected a plea agreement when dismissal of the more serious counts would not reflect the alleged offense conduct and would constrain sentencing discretion.

“Given the nature and scope of the conspiracy alleged, if the Court were to permit dismissal of the more serious bank fraud and false statement charges, the remaining conspiracy charge would not adequately reflect the seriousness of the Sotolongo’s actual offense behavior.”

In Doe v. Rollins College, Dalton required school-specific circumstances connecting external pressure to asserted investigative disparities rather than treating public criticism alone as proof of gender bias.

“Alone, allegations of external pressure fail to support an inference of gender discrimination.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Vazquez v. Professional Bureau of Collections of Maryland, Inc.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 217 F. Supp. 3d 1348) · 2016-11-18
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted in part

“Defendant's Dispositive Motion to Dismiss With Prejudice (Doc. 12) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. a. The Motion (Doc. 12) is DENIED to the extent it seeks dismissal of the Complaint with prejudice. b. The Motion (Doc. 12) is GRANTED to the extent it seeks dismissal of the Complaint without prejudice. ... The Complaint (Doc. 2) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. ... Plaintiff is granted leave to file an Amended Complaint.”

Ayers v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 316 F. Supp. 3d 1324) · 2018-06-20
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Defendant State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on the Coverage Issue (Doc. 87) is GRANTED to the extent identified in this Order. ... Because the Court concludes that the Policy does not obligate State Farm to hire pre-suit counsel for Ayers, State Farm's SJ Motion is due to be granted.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiff Frank Ayers' Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 85) is DENIED.”

Commodores Entm't Corp. v. McClary
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 324 F. Supp. 3d 1245) · 2018-08-23
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Granted in part

“Commodores Entertainment Corporation Motion for Partial Summary Judgment as to the Complaint, First Amended Verified Answer and Counterclaim by Thomas McClary, and the First Amended Third Party Complaint (Doc. 411) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.”

Gallaher v. Estates at Aloma Woods Homeowners Ass'n, Inc.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 316 F. Supp. 3d 1358) · 2018-07-13
Motion for judgment on pleadings (defendant) Granted in part

“Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Doc. 81) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. a. The Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Estates at Aloma Woods Homeowners Association, Inc. ... as to Count 6 of the Amended Complaint. b. In all other respects, the 12(c) Motion is denied.”

Johnson v. New Destiny Christian Ctr. Church, Inc.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 303 F. Supp. 3d 1282) · 2018-04-02
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Defendant Resurrection Life THC, Inc's Dispositive Motion for Final Summary Judgment with Incorporated Memorandum of Law (Doc. 164) is GRANTED.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“As to Defendant RLTHC, Plaintiff's Second Renewed and Amended Verified Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on the Issue of Liability and Defendants' Affirmative Defenses ... (Doc. 162) is DENIED.”

Truog v. Mid-America Apartment Cmtys., Inc.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 358 F. Supp. 3d 1332) · 2019-02-12
Summary judgment (defendant) Denied

“Defendant Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 53) is DENIED.”

Baskerville v. Sec'y of the Dep't of Veteran Affairs
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 377 F. Supp. 3d 1331) · 2019-05-07
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“Defendant Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs' Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 24) is DENIED.”

Gonzalez-Garcia v. U.S. Attorney Gen.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 317 F. Supp. 3d 1147) · 2018-06-26
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Doc. 29) is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”

Wood v. Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 214 F. Supp. 3d 1265) · 2016-10-04
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Granted

“Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Supporting Memorandum of Law (Doc. 45) is GRANTED.”

Summary judgment (defendant) Denied

“Defendant[ ] Clean Fuels of Indiana, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support (Doc. 52) is DENIED.”

Diamond Resorts Int'l, Inc. v. Aaronson
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 371 F. Supp. 3d 1088) · 2019-03-05
Summary judgment (defendant) Denied

“Defendants moved for summary judgment on all claims (Doc. 115 (‘Motion’)), and Diamond opposed (Doc. 133). The Motion is due to be denied.”

Saweress v. Ivey
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 354 F. Supp. 3d 1288) · 2019-01-01
Summary judgment (defendant) Denied

“Both parties moved for summary judgment (Doc. 19 (‘Defendant's Motion’); Doc. 22 (‘Plaintiff's Motion’)), and each side responded and replied (Docs. 27-29). For the reasons set forth below, both motions are due to be denied.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Both parties moved for summary judgment (Doc. 19 (‘Defendant's Motion’); Doc. 22 (‘Plaintiff's Motion’)) ... For the reasons set forth below, both motions are due to be denied.”

Garrison v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc.
(reported, M.D. Fla.; 233 F. Supp. 3d 1282) · 2017-01-09
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted in part

“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Counts II-VII of Plaintiffs Complaint with Prejudice (Doc. 19) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART ... Counts Two through Seven of the Complaint (Doc. 1) are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. On or before Friday, January 20, 2017, Plaintiff may file an Amended Complaint.”

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