Kenneth J. Mansfield
How Judge Mansfield rules, drawn from 27 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Mansfield decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In evaluating a plaintiff's repeated in forma pauperis applications, the judge treated major inconsistencies between successive financial disclosures (rather than any single number) as the key problem justifying dismissal.
“There were major discrepancies between Plaintiff’s Second IFP Application and Third IFP Application.”
When assessing a contested good-faith settlement, the judge treated arm's-length negotiations and amounts tied to a related bellwether judgment as evidence of a rational settlement, while rejecting speculation that trial might have produced more.
“The settlement amounts are tethered to the Feindt bellwether trial decision. The settlements reflect a logical, fair, and good faith resolution of this complex and contentious case in light of the risks, costs, and uncertainties of further litigation.”
Procedural preferences
On an unopposed default-judgment motion, the judge worked systematically through all seven Eitel factors even though the outcome was not seriously contested, rather than resting on the defendant's non-appearance alone.
“The Court finds that the totality of the Eitel factors weigh in favor of entering default judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant Evans.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiff has neither paid the applicable filing fee or submitted a revised IFP Application. ... Accordingly, the Court FINDS and RECOMMENDS that the district court DISMISS this action.”
“the Court FINDS AND RECOMMENDS that the district court GRANT Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment Against Defendant Corey R. Evans (ECF No. 35) as follows: (1) Award Plaintiff a total of $4,000.00 for statutory damages; (2) Award Plaintiff a total of $505.40 for costs; (3) Award Plaintiff a total of $5,961.15 for attorneys’ fees; and (4) Award Plaintiff a permanent injunction against Defendant Evans’ continued infringement of Plaintiff’s copyright in the Work.”
“The Court FINDS that the state trial and appellate courts did not violate Clement's due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments... The Court therefore RECOMMENDS that Clement's Petition be DENIED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, this Court FINDS and RECOMMENDS that the district court GRANT Plaintiff U.S. Fire's Motion for Default Judgment only as to Ramiro.”
“Based on the foregoing, the Court FINDS that removal to federal court is not proper and the case should be remanded to state court because Defendants cannot establish federal-question or diversity-of-citizenship jurisdiction. The Court thus RECOMMENDS that the district court GRANT Plaintiff's Motion.”
“In accordance with the foregoing, this Court FINDS AND RECOMMENDS that Default Judgment in favor of Plaintiffs Trustees of the Hawaii Carpenters Trust Funds and against Defendant a default Judgment against Defendant Tricon, Inc. for contributions in the sum of $108,837.07, inclusive of liquidated damages, 12% interest, 401(k) Lost Earnings Interest, and attorneys' fees and costs in the amount of $4,084.13.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART DEFENDANTS CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, ROBERT J. KRONING, GUY INOUYE, AND JASON NIKAIDO'S MOTION TO DISMISS FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT... The Court GRANTS Defendants' motion to dismiss: a. Count VI of the FAC... however, the Court grants Plaintiff leave to amend his complaint with respect to his Conspiracy Claim... 2. The Court DENIES Defendants' motion to dismiss Count IV of the FAC- Plaintiff's hostile work environment claim.”
“For the foregoing reasons, this Court FINDS and RECOMMENDS that [14] Plaintiff State Farm's Motion for Default Judgment or, in the alternative, for Summary Judgment against Defendant Shaun Ching be GRANTED.”
“After reviewing the parties' submissions and the record established in this action, the Court RECOMMENDS that the District Court DENY Defendants' Motion to Dismiss and exercise its discretion to quash service.”
“Because Defendants were not properly served with the Summons and Complaint, they have no obligation to file an answer as of this date and default cannot be entered against them. Accordingly, Plaintiff's Motion to Enter Default Judgment is DENIED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, this Court FINDS and RECOMMENDS that Plaintiff State Farm's Motion for Default Judgment or, in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment against Defendant Ionatana Alualu be GRANTED.”
“Based on the foregoing, the Court FINDS AND RECOMMENDS that the district court GRANT Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment and award Plaintiffs damages in the amount of $2,087,137.44.”
“Based on the foregoing, the Court FINDS AND RECOMMENDS that the district court GRANT IN PART AND DENY IN PART Defendant's Motion for Attorneys' Fees (ECF No. 163). The Court RECOMMENDS that the district court award Defendant his reasonable attorneys' fees in the amount of $107,953.88. The Court RECOMMENDS that the district court DENY the Motion in all other respects.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sampled consent matters include personal-injury removals, employment and civil-rights claims, Social Security appeals, and copyright litigation. Many ended through settlement, stipulated dismissal, or case-management orders before a dispositive ruling.
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