William Matthewman
How Judge Matthewman decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In tax-refund suits, holds the taxpayer to the burden of proving timely mailing and recommends summary judgment for the government where that burden is not met.
“and granting Defendant's motion for summary judgment ... Defendant's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 46] is GRANTED.”
Procedural preferences
Enforces Rule 4 service strictly — recommends dismissal without prejudice for insufficient service and vacating a default judgment as void where service was never properly effected.
“Defendants' Motion to Vacate Entry of Default Judgment [DE 51] should be GRANTED; ... the judgment is void due to the failure of Plaintiff to properly and legally effect service of process”
Cautions
Recommends terminating sanctions — striking pleadings and entry of default — for willful, bad-faith violations of court orders.
“Judge Matthewman recommends striking Defendants' Answer and Affirmative Defenses for their willful, bad faith violations of this Court's Orders. ... Defendants' Pleadings ... shall be STRICKEN FROM THE RECORD. ... The clerk SHALL ENTER default against the Defendants.”
Declines Rule 11 attorney-fee sanctions where the evidence was merely weak but appeared sufficient, testing litigation conduct by reasonableness under the circumstances rather than hindsight.
“The Court agrees with the Magistrate's conclusion that the Motion for Attorney's Fees and Non-Taxable Costs [DE 92] sought by Defendants should be denied. ... Defendants' Motion for Attorney's Fees and Non-Taxable Costs [DE 92] is hereby DENIED.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Report recommends that (1) Plaintiff's Complaint be dismissed without prejudice, (2) Plaintiff's pleadings be stricken ... Magistrate Judge Matthewman's Report and Recommendation (DE 78) is ADOPTED.”
“Defendant's Motion for Bill of Costs [DE's 43/44] is GRANTED; ... Plaintiff is hereby ordered to pay Defendants their total costs in the amount of $402.00.”
“The Magistrate Judge recommends denying Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment ... Plaintiff's Amended Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 45] is DENIED.”
“and granting Defendant's motion for summary judgment ... Defendant's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 46] is GRANTED.”
“The Court agrees with the Magistrate's conclusion that the Motion for Attorney's Fees and Non-Taxable Costs [DE 92] sought by Defendants should be denied. ... Defendants' Motion for Attorney's Fees and Non-Taxable Costs [DE 92] is hereby DENIED.”
“Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [DE 50] should be GRANTED for insufficient service of process and failure to state a cause of action; ... Plaintiff's Complaint [DE 1] should be DISMISSED without prejudice and Plaintiff granted leave to file an amended complaint”
“Defendants' Motion to Vacate Entry of Default Judgment [DE 51] should be GRANTED; ... the judgment is void due to the failure of Plaintiff to properly and legally effect service of process”
“To the extent Plaintiff's 'Motion to Object Order to Vacate and order to grant Summary Judgement' [DE 57] seeks relief, it should be DENIED without prejudice.”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Change Venue [DE 52] should be DENIED as moot.”
“Judge Matthewman recommends striking Defendants' Answer and Affirmative Defenses for their willful, bad faith violations of this Court's Orders. ... Defendants' Pleadings ... shall be STRICKEN FROM THE RECORD. ... The clerk SHALL ENTER default against the Defendants.”
“the Undersigned RECOMMENDS that the Motion be GRANTED and that the Complaint be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE IN PART AND STAYED IN PART.”
“RECOMMENDS that Defendant's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings as to Count II (Rescission) [DE 40] be DENIED for the reasons stated in this Report and Recommendation.”
“the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge recommends that the United States District Judge DENY Petitioner's Petition [DE 1] and DENY a Certificate of Appealability.”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that the District Judge GRANT the Motion to Dismiss [DE 44] and DISMISS WITHOUT PREJUDICE Counts II and III and DENY AS MOOT the Motion for Reconsideration [DE 9].”
“Based on the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED that Petitioner's Petition for a Writ of Error Coram Nobis [Cv-DE 1] be DENIED.”
“the Undersigned RECOMMENDS that the Motion be GRANTED and that the Complaint be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
Put Judge Matthewman's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Matthewman actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Matthewman's own signed orders and cites them.