Ilana Kara Diamond Rovner
How Judge Rovner rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Rovner left this court for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Rovner
Ilana Kara Diamond Rovner was a judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Judge Rovner received a commission on September 12, 1984. Judge Rovner left the court on August 17, 1992 on appointment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
How Judge Rovner decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On Section 1983 municipal-liability claims she required specific, well-pleaded facts of a policy or practice rather than conclusory Monell recitals, warning that boilerplate policy allegations would collapse the doctrine into respondeat superior — but she dismissed such counts without prejudice, leaving room to replead after discovery.
“In order to state a claim against a municipality based on a ‘policy’ allegation, plaintiff must set forth specific facts supporting the allegation:”
Procedural preferences
In Randall's prisoner civil rights case, she denied the defendants' summary judgment motion because they had not addressed his tunnel redesign theory and the record left a factual dispute about notice of the alleged danger.
“the onus is on defendants to sufficiently respond to the theory of liability underlying Randall’s complaint and to demonstrate the absence of any genuine issue of material fact.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, the Court finds that the Foundation’s claim to the wreck must be upheld and Zych’s claim for ownership must be dismissed.”
“Zych has not provided sufficient evidence from which a reasonable fact-finder could conclude that Aetna abandoned the wreck of the Lady Elgin.”
“For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies the motions.”
“the motion of the Village to dismiss Count I of the complaint is granted without prejudice.”
“plaintiff’s motion for additional attorneys’ fees and costs is granted.”
“Lazzara’s motion to reconsider the October 30, 1984 ruling is granted and summary judgment is entered in favor of plaintiff on his complaint in the amount of $150,000.”
“Esser’s motion for reconsideration is denied as to Counts I, II, III, V, VI, and VII.”
“the Court, having reconsidered on its own motion the Superintendent’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds of abstention, grants the Superintendent’s motion for the reasons set forth above”
“the Court granted the City’s motion for a protective order limiting disclosure of confidential information to third parties”
“Magistrate-Judge Bobrick recommended that the defendant's motion for summary judgment be denied in part and granted only as to plaintiff’s Title VII claims as they relate to conduct which occurred prior to August 29, 1986. ... With the exception of the modification as to the starting date of plaintiff’s Title VII claim, the Court adopts that Report in full.”
“the Court denies plaintiffs’ motions for appointment of counsel”
“defendant Burlington Northern Railroad Company’s motions for partial summary judgment are granted”
“Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Count I is granted because plaintiff’s conviction bars his false arrest claim.”
“Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on Count III is granted because plaintiff failed to comply with the notice requirements of the Tort Immunity Act.”
“the Court finds it unnecessary to consider plaintiffs motion to strike.”
“the government’s motion for summary judgment is granted and the case is dismissed.”
A historical record
Judge Rovner left this court for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.