John Zihun Lee
Judge Lee no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Lee decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On the threshold question of the standard of proof in a patent-eligibility challenge, he held that the clear-and-convincing evidentiary standard governs only factual disputes and has no role in the purely legal Section 101 inquiry.
“the Court is persuaded that the clear-and-convincing standard has no role to play in the § 101 determination at issue in this case”
As a Rule 702 gatekeeper in a toxic-tort case, he required expert causation testimony tied to the plaintiff's own exposure level, treating a wholesale failure to quantify individual dosage as fatal to admissibility even where the general theory was theoretically possible.
“In contrast to the plaintiff in Schultz, Krik does not offer any expert testimony as to how much asbestos exposure he experienced and whether that dosage of exposure was sufficient to cause his lung cancer.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court denies Defendants’ motion to decer-tify the class and grants Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment”
“the Court grants CitiMortgage’s motion for summary judgment [22]. CitiMortgage is dismissed as a defendant”
“Count I is dismissed without prejudice, Count II is dismissed with prejudice, and Count III may proceed”
“For the reasons stated herein, Defendants’ motions are denied.”
“the Court denies IH2’s motion to dismiss [12]”
“the Court grants Lakeshore’s motion for summary judgment [47] on the Loss of Earnings contract claim in the amount of $250,000. The Court denies Lakeshore’s motion as to the Hull Repair claim and its claim under 215 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/155.”
“The Court denies Acadia’s motion for summary judgment [52] on Lakeshore’s Loss of Earnings contract claim but grants it on the other *1060two claims.”
“Acadia’s motions to strike [49, 50] are denied”
“Defendants’ motion to dismiss [223] is denied.”
“the Court denies Defendant William Adkins motion for qualified immunity [61].”
“The Court grants in part and denies in part NSMA’s motion for leave to file a Third Amended Complaint [102]. NSMA’s motion for leave to file a Third Amended Complaint asserting an unreasonable search and invasion of privacy claim under the U.S. Constitution (Count I) and the Illinois Constitution (Count II) is denied with prejudice.”
“the Court grants Defendant’s motion for summary judgment [92].”
“The Court denies Plaintiffs motion to reopen discovery and compel [112]”
“Defendants Crane Co.’s, Marley-Wy-lain’s, and Exxon/Mobil’s Motions to Exclude the ‘Each and Every Exposure’ Opinion offered by Drs. Frank and. Brody (dkt.62, 73, 77) are granted;”
“Defendants Owens-Illinois’ and Exxon/Mobil’s Motions to Exclude the ‘Any Exposure’ Opinion offered by Dr. Frank (dkt.66, 77) are granted;”
“Defendants Marley-Wylain’s and Exxon/Mobil’s Motions to Exclude the ‘Single Fiber Theory’ of Dr. Frank and any others (Weil, Mobil) (dkt.71, 77) are granted; and”
“Defendant Exxon/Mobil’s Motion to Bar the Expert Opinions of Frank and Parker (dkt.67, 76, 77) is granted in part and denied in part.”
“For the reasons given above, the Court denies Comcast’s motion to dismiss.”
A historical record
Judge Lee 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.