Susan Sims Harrell Black
Judge Black no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Black decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
She applied statutory text directly when its words carried a definite meaning and required a concrete reason before departing from that text.
“Where the words used by the legislature are clear and convey a definite meaning, Florida courts need not resort to rules of statutory construction.”
She evaluated insurance language against how the transportation service actually operated rather than relying on a formal label for the vehicle arrangement.
“To judicially find otherwise would be to ignore the realities of today’s ‘public’ transportation.”
Procedural preferences
On summary judgment, she preserved genuinely competing reasonable inferences for the factfinder.
“When more than one inference reasonably can be drawn, it is for the trier of fact to determine the proper one.”
She treated grievance and arbitration systems as meaningful final-resolution mechanisms and resisted imposing routine litigation duties on unions after every adverse decision.
“If every adverse decision by the grievance committee were to be challenged in court, the advantages of having grievances decided by an arbitrator would be undermined.”
Cautions
She expected lawyers advocating a change in precedent to identify that request candidly rather than presenting foreclosed theories as settled law.
“when an attorney seeks to change existing law, the attorney must candidly inform the Court of that fact.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“That the Plaintiff ISLIC’s Motion To Confirm Existence Of Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction, filed on November 10, 1987, is granted.”
“That the Motions to Dismiss, filed herein on April 3, 1987, are granted.”
“That defendant’s Motion To Dismiss, filed April 4, 1989, which the Court on May 8, 1989, converted into a Motion For Summary Judgment, is granted.”
“That plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, filed herein on October 3, 1984, is granted.”
“That defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed herein on October 2, 1984, is denied.”
“That plaintiff’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, filed herein on February 19, 1985, is denied.”
“That defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count I and Count II of the Second Amended Complaint, filed herein on February 19, 1985, is granted.”
“That defendant Grand Union Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed herein on May 21, 1982, is granted.”
“That defendant Local 441’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed herein on May 21, 1982, is granted.”
“That plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed herein on May 21, 1982, is denied.”
“That Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed herein on April 27,1987, is granted in part.”
“That plaintiff’s Motion For Summary Judgment Of Infringement, filed on August 17, 1987, is granted.”
“That Reichold Chemicals, Inc.’s Motion For Summary Judgment, filed on October 21, 1988, and subsequently adopted by the other defendants, is granted in part and denied in part.”
“That the Motion Of The Plaintiff, Desisto College, Inc. For Partial Summary Judgment, filed May 18, 1988, is denied.”
“That the Motion Of The Plaintiff, Desisto College, Inc., For Partial Summary Judgment On Count V Of The Fourth Amended Complaint, filed July 22, 1988, is denied.”
“That Defendants’ Motion For Summary Judgment, filed on September 22, 1988, is granted.”
“That Plaintiff’s Motion For Review Of The Clerk’s Taxation Of Costs, filed May 9, 1989, is granted in part and denied in part.”
“That Defendants’ Amended Motion For Attorneys’ Fees, Pursuant To 42 U.S.C. § 1988 & Rule 11, filed April 24, 1989, is granted in part and denied in part.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Count II of the Counterclaim of Alliance Mortgage Company, filed herein on February 18, 1986, is denied.”
A historical record
Judge Black 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.