Theresa Lazar Springmann
How Judge Springmann decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Reads consumer-protection statutes for substance over form, treating a deferred-payment arrangement as 'credit' under the Truth in Lending Act regardless of how the contract is labeled.
“the Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is GRANTED (DE 35).”
Procedural preferences
On summary judgment in Section 1983 excessive-force cases, construes the facts for the nonmovant and declines qualified immunity where the right was clearly established and fact issues remain, granting the motion in part and denying it in part.
“The Fort Wayne Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 27] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
On a post-judgment motion to amend, grants leave to recharacterize a claim on the same facts but denies leave to add a new claim that would unduly prejudice a defendant who has already won summary judgment.
“the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend/Correct Complaint [EOF No. 89]. The Court GRANTS the Plaintiffs' Motion as to Count I, a claim under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 for violation of the Fourth Amendment ... and DENIES the Plaintiffs' Motion as to Count II, a state law claim for false imprisonment against all Defendants.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (DE 33) is DENIED, and the Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is GRANTED (DE 35).”
“the Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is GRANTED (DE 35).”
“The Fort Wayne Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 27] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“Defendant Robert Hatfield's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 29] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“the Fort Wayne Defendants' Motion to Strike [DE 56] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“the Defendant's Motion to Exclude Time [DE 31] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“the Defendants' Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Summary judgment is GRANTED to Defendant City of Hammond on all claims asserted against it; ... summary judgment is DENIED as to Derrick Gray's and Yolanda Gray's claims of excessive force and claims of unreasonable search and seizure”
“the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend/Correct Complaint [EOF No. 89]. The Court GRANTS the Plaintiffs' Motion as to Count I, a claim under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 for violation of the Fourth Amendment ... and DENIES the Plaintiffs' Motion as to Count II, a state law claim for false imprisonment against all Defendants.”
Put Judge Springmann's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Springmann actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Springmann's own signed orders and cites them.