Willis Beverly Hunt Jr.
Judge Hunt no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Hunt decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On substantive-due-process land-use claims, dismisses with prejudice where the zoning dispute does not 'shock the conscience' absent self-dealing or graft.
“Defendants' motions to dismiss, [Docs. 24, 26, 40], are GRANTED. Plaintiffs' claim brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, is DISMISSED with prejudice, and as this Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' state law claims, those claims are DISMISSED without prejudice.”
In Lanham Act false-advertising suits, grants a defendant's summary judgment where the ad is not literally false and a 'true but misleading' theory is unsupported by reliable consumer or market research.
“Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [27] is GRANTED ... the Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs Lanham Act claim. ... the Court also GRANTS Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs state law claims.”
Procedural preferences
On Rule 12(c) judgment on the pleadings, denies the motion where fact questions — such as whether an implied contract arose from the parties' continued dealing — require discovery.
“Defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings as to the amended complaint, [Doc. 20], is DENIED.”
Cautions
Scrutinizes attorney-fee and cost requests closely — disallowing computerized legal research, in-house staff, and inflated copying and travel, and applying the declining-percentage rule to mega-fund fees.
“Plaintiffs' motion for attorney's fees and expenses, [Doc. 622], is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. ... class counsel is AWARDED 21% of the $137.5 million settlement fund or $28,875,000 in attorney's fees.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendants' motions to dismiss, [Docs. 24, 26, 40], are GRANTED. Plaintiffs' claim brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, is DISMISSED with prejudice, and as this Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' state law claims, those claims are DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“Defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings as to the amended complaint, [Doc. 20], is DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs motion to dismiss Defendants' counterclaims, [Doc. 24], is GRANTED IN PART and Defendants' counterclaim for commercial disparagement is DISMISSED with leave granted for Defendants to recast the claim as a claim for libel.”
“Because this Court concludes that the amended complaint states a claim for relief, Defendants' motion for sanctions, [Doc. 22], is likewise DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs' motion for attorney's fees and expenses, [Doc. 622], is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. ... class counsel is AWARDED 21% of the $137.5 million settlement fund or $28,875,000 in attorney's fees.”
“Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [27] is GRANTED ... the Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs Lanham Act claim. ... the Court also GRANTS Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs state law claims.”
“Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment Against Defendants' Counterclaim [30] is GRANTED ... Hickson's motion for summary judgment on Defendants' counterclaim for libel is GRANTED on the basis that the communication is privileged.”
“Plaintiffs Motion for an Order to Show Cause Why Defendants Should Not Be Held in Contempt [31] is DENIED.”
“For the aforementioned reasons, defendant's motion for summary judgment [11] is GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to enter judgment against plaintiff and in favor of defendant, and to close this case.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 72 days (N = 10).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 84 days (N = 1).
The reviewed 2011-2016 matters reflect the closing years of his inactive-senior service and include death-penalty and post-conviction petitions, prisoner civil-rights cases, a removed foreclosure, an equipment-financing default, and several miscellaneous matters. They describe the late tail of his service rather than his active 1995-2005 merits caseload, and the reviewed matters did not identify a referral magistrate.
A historical record
Judge Hunt 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.