Cecilia Maria Altonaga
How Judge Altonaga decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Summary judgment is reserved for cases with no genuine factual dispute; a triable issue on any claim defeats the motion, even where the non-movant's evidence is thin.
“Plaintiff's evidence, although admittedly sparse, creates a triable issue on every claim.”
She will grant defense summary judgment where the claim fails as a matter of law -- here a FCRA report that was accurate and not objectively misleading to a reasonable user.
“Defendant's report was neither inaccurate nor objectively misleading, so Plaintiff's 'case goes no further.'”
On a motion to dismiss she refuses to weigh fact-intensive defenses, routing them to summary judgment or trial.
“these arguments are more appropriate for summary judgment" or, where the facts are disputed, at trial.”
Motion outcomes
Counted from classified signed orders only. Percentages are shown only where the sample is large enough to be meaningful; smaller samples are reported as raw counts.
| Motions to dismiss N = 4 |
Granted in part: 2Denied: 2 | counts only |
| Summary judgment N = 4 |
Granted: 1Denied: 3 | counts only |
| Motion for leave to amend N = 1 |
Granted: 1 | counts only |
| Motion for leave to file N = 1 |
Moot / procedural: 1 | counts only |
A "1 of 1" is one ruling, not a tendency. Treat small samples as illustrative, not predictive.
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant, Experian Information Solutions, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 36] is GRANTED. Final judgment will issue by separate order.”
“Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 15] is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Amend the First Amended Complaint [ECF No. 35] is GRANTED.”
“Defendants, John Hasan Ruiz, La Ley Con John H. Ruiz, P.A., and 620 Arvida Holdings LLC's Joint Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 36] is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part. Counts II, IV, and V are DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“Defendant, Jewish Community Services of South Florida Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 38] and Plaintiff, Lisset Infante's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [ECF No. 42] are DENIED.”
“Plaintiff, Lisset Infante's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [ECF No. 42] are DENIED.”
“Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant, 530 Mashta LLC's Motion to Dismiss Maite's Amended Counterclaim [ECF No. 44] is DENIED.”
“Defendant, Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 25] is DENIED.”
“Defendant, Millicom International Cellular S.A.'s Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 17] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Counts II-VII of the Complaint [ECF No. 7-2] are dismissed. Plaintiff, Multiphone Latin America Inc. has until September 10, 2025 to file an amended complaint.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File [a] Sur-Reply [ECF No. 22] is DENIED as moot.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 33 days (N = 5).
From a 2021 filing-window enumeration (assigned_judge='Cecilia M. Altonaga'). A current enumeration is flooded by the 2026 S.D. Fla. alien-detainee 463 habeas surge; the 2021 window shows a diverse civil mix (commercial/contract, FLSA, insurance, FCRA, ADA, patent) with many short-lived dockets that settled or were administratively closed. Caseload is descriptive, not a base rate. Referral MJs Edwin G. Torres and Jared Strauss harvested to the registry.