Susan Cawthon Bucklew
How Judge Bucklew rules, drawn from 14 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Bucklew decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
At the pleading stage, Bucklew permits fact-dependent claims to proceed when the alleged relationship and conduct could establish a duty after discovery, even if the legal theory may later overlap another claim.
“summary judgment, rather than a motion to dismiss, is the proper vehicle for resolution”
In ERISA review, Bucklew focuses on the plan's operative disability standard and objective support rather than the claimant's inability to return to the prior job.
“Plaintiff has failed to show that the decision was wrong and there is no conflict of interest.”
Cautions
For claims subject to heightened pleading, state the underlying misconduct, the defendant's knowledge, and the assistance provided; absolute detail is unnecessary when facts remain in defendants' exclusive control.
“[A]bsolute particularity is not required, especially when some matters are beyond the knowledge of the pleader and can only be developed through discovery.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendants Suarez and TPL’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 14) is DENIED.”
“Wasserman’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 17) is DENIED.”
“The Postmaster General’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 31) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART as follows: (1)As to Count I, the discrimination claim, summary judgment is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART as described in this Order. (2) As to Count II, the retaliation claim, summary judgment is DENIED. (3) As to Count III, the FMLA claim, summary judgment is GRANTED in favor of the Defendant, United States Postmaster General John E. Potter, and against the Plaintiff, Wendy Johnson.”
“The Court DENIES AS MOOT Defendant’s motion for judgment as a matter of law (Doc. No. 83).”
“Accordingly, the motion for summary judgment filed by Defendant Auto-Owners Insurance Company (Doc. 472) is DENIED.”
“Therefore, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 28) is GRANTED.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 29) is DENIED.”
“Defendant’s Motion for Oral Argument (Doc. No. 31) on the Motion to Dismiss is also DENIED.”
“Auto-Owners’ motion, as corrected, for attorney’s fees and costs (Docs. 596, 601) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART”
“Plaintiffs Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 36) is DENIED.”
“Defendant Navient Solutions, LLC's Motion to Strike Class Allegations and to Dismiss (Doc. 28) is DENIED .”
“Defendant Tervis Tumbler Company's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint (Doc. 44) and Defendants' Southern Graphics, Inc., and SGS International, LLC's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint with Prejudice (Doc. 45) are DENIED .”
“Counterclaim-Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Counterclaim (Doc. No.24) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART”
“Defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Doc. No. 38) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART”
“Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 37) is GRANTED;”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 259 days (N = 10).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 3.5 days (N = 6).
The fixed-seed 2015 cohort ranged from post-conviction and contract matters resolved within days to employment and consumer cases lasting one to three years. The ten-case duration median was 259 days. This bounded cohort describes the sampled matters rather than the judge's full caseload.
Draft for Judge Bucklew with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Bucklew, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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