William Wallace Lambdin
Judge Lambdin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Lambdin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Shifted the burden to a debtor to explain a substantial gap between recent financial statements and bankruptcy schedules once creditors established a prima facie concealment case.
“the burden is cast upon the bankrupt, either to show that the statements were false when made, or else to explain what became of his assets”
Respected an existing state foreclosure where the trustee could assert usury and surplus rights there without losing an adequate remedy.
“the trustee can assert all the rights he has in the matter in the state court”
Procedural preferences
Distinguished present interests from former professional relationships when evaluating judicial disqualification.
“It is present, not past, interest ’¿Vhich disqualifies a judge.”
Allowed claims to proceed when pleadings alleged special deposits and a deliberate plan to appropriate them, treating those allegations as true at dismissal.
“These allegations, therefore, save the petition from dismissal upon general demurrer.”
Cautions
Would not extend a foreign-vessel remedy where a governing treaty assigned the crew dispute to the vessel's national authorities.
“treaty stipulations exist, however, with regard to the right o£ the consul of a foreign country to adjudge controversies arising between the master and the crow”
Declined to substitute judicial judgment for the Interstate Commerce Commission after the agency had acted on a rate-suspension request.
“when the Commission has acted in such a matter, the court should not substitute its judgment for that of the Commission.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“It is therefore ordered that the matter be referred back to Hon. R. J. Bacon, the referee, to hear further evidence”
“The clerk of this court will therefore retax the costs in this case in accordance with the foregoing opinion.”
“overruling the demurrer of defendant on all the grounds except the sixteenth, and requiring plaintiff to file the amendment above suggested.”
“the rule of comity prevailing between the courts, as well as the principles set forth above in this opinion, constrain this court to deny the injunction prayed for.”
“He holds, therefore, that he is not disqualified.”
“An order will be taken accordingly, overruling the motion to dismiss upon each of the grounds taken therein.”
“A decree may therefore be entered in this case finding in favor of the complainant against the. defendants, the Americus National Bank and its receiver, for the said sum of $6,000 as a preferred claim”
“The objection to the jurisdiction of the court is therefore sustained, and a decree will be entered in the case, dismissing the libel and dividing the costs between the parties.”
“the court is compelled to decline the injunction, and to dissolve the restraining order heretofore granted.”
“an order of discharge will be immediately entered in favor of the bankrupt.”
“the motions to dismiss same for the want of jurisdiction will be overruled.”
“sustaining the petition for review filed by petitioner, and setting aside the order of the referee in the matter”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed decisions predate electronic case-level dockets. The profile therefore makes no claim about complete caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Lambdin 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.