Maria Valdez
How Judge Valdez rules, drawn from 24 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Valdez decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
The seven sampled Social Security decisions include three affirmances and four partial remands. The remands generally addressed discrete gaps in the administrative analysis rather than awarding benefits outright.
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 29] is granted in part and denied in part, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 31] is denied. The Court finds that this matter should be remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this Order.”
In consent Social Security cases, Valdez also affirmed agency decisions when she found the administrative record sufficient, denying the claimant's request to reverse or remand.
“For the reasons that follow, Plaintiff's motion to reverse or remand the Commissioner's decision [Doc. No. 16] is denied, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 21] is granted.”
In the sampled discovery ruling, Valdez granted only part of a motion to compel rather than ordering the requested production wholesale.
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Discovery Responses [Doc. No. 39] is granted in part and denied in part.”
Cautions
One consent fee-shifting decision awarded the prevailing plaintiff $164,955.37 in attorney fees.
“Plaintiff is awarded $164,955.37 in attorney's fees.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons that follow, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 19] is denied and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 27] is granted.”
“For the reasons that follow, Plaintiff's motion to reverse or remand the Commissioner's decision [Doc. No. 16] is denied, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 21] is granted.”
“For the reasons stated herein, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) [Doc. No. 13] is denied.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction [Doc. No. 20] is denied.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Discovery Responses [Doc. No. 39] is granted in part and denied in part.”
“For the reasons stated above, Defendants' Motion to Bar J. Thomas' Testimony or in the Alternative to Depose Thomas [Doc. No. 180] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“Plaintiff is awarded $164,955.37 in attorney's fees.”
“It is for those aforementioned reasons; the Court respectfully recommends that Defendants' Motion to Enforce Settlement Agreement [Doc. No. 42] be GRANTED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 12] is granted in part and denied in part, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 17] is denied. The Court finds that this matter should be remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this Order.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's request to reverse the Commissioner's decision is granted in part and denied in part, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 24] is denied. The Court finds that this matter should be remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this Order.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 29] is granted in part and denied in part, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 31] is denied. The Court finds that this matter should be remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this Order.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 15] is granted in part and denied in part, and the Commissioner's cross-motion for summary judgment [Doc. No. 22] is denied. The Court finds that this matter should be remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this Order.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
- The recent assigned docket is primarily duty-magistrate work, including sealed miscellaneous proceedings and criminal assignments.
- The written-order sample supplies the civil case mix: Social Security consent decisions, other consent civil rulings, referred discovery, witness issues, and settlement or dismissal recommendations.
- This describes observed matters rather than their frequency across the full docket.
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