John J. O'Sullivan
Judge O'Sullivan no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge O'Sullivan decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security appeals, recommends affirming the Commissioner where substantial evidence supports the decision.
“ADJUDGED that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED. ... for the reasons in Magistrate O'Sullivan's Report and Recommendations that the Court now adopts”
Will recommend reversing and remanding an ALJ's denial of benefits where the agency decision is not supported by substantial evidence.
“he recommended that (1) the Plaintiff's Motion should be granted ... The Plaintiff's Motion [ECF No. 21] is GRANTED.”
Procedural preferences
On cross-motions for summary judgment, rules granularly — denying both sides except on unopposed points, and applying judicial estoppel where a party's positions conflict.
“the Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is denied except where unopposed”
Cautions
In insurance duty-to-defend disputes, resolves cross-motions for summary judgment on the pleadings, recommending judgment for the insurer where the underlying allegations trigger no duty.
“the undersigned respectfully recommends that Travelers' Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding the Duty to Defend (DE# 25, 9/29/16) be GRANTED”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ADJUDGED that Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED.”
“ADJUDGED that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED. ... for the reasons in Magistrate O'Sullivan's Report and Recommendations that the Court now adopts”
“the Defendants' motion for summary judgment is denied”
“the Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is denied except where unopposed”
“the undersigned respectfully recommends that Travelers' Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding the Duty to Defend (DE# 25, 9/29/16) be GRANTED”
“Plaintiff, Witkin Design Group, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding the Duty to Defend (DE# 29, 10/11/16) be DENIED”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (D.E. 19) is DENIED”
“The Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (D.E. 20) is GRANTED; ... The Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED”
“he recommended that (1) the Plaintiff's Motion should be granted ... The Plaintiff's Motion [ECF No. 21] is GRANTED.”
“(2) the Defendant's Motion should be denied ... The Defendant's Motion [ECF No. 26] is DENIED.”
A historical record
Judge O'Sullivan 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.