Debra McVicker Lynch
How Judge Lynch rules, drawn from 3 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Lynch no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Lynch
Debra McVicker Lynch served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana from October 2008 until October 2022. She earned a law degree from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis and practiced commercial litigation before joining the bench.
How Judge Lynch decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Howard’s case, Lynch recommended default, a fine, and payment of the plaintiff’s expenses after finding that Alpha Home defied the settlement conference order and abused discovery.
“the magistrate judge recommends that the court enter the following sanctions against Alpha Home: ... An entry of default under Rule 55(a) against Alpha Home. ... Alpha Home must pay a $500 fine to the court ... [and] the reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by Ms. Howard”
Cautions
In Nyugen's case, Lynch recommended dismissal with prejudice and payment of the defendant's fees after finding that Nyugen had deliberately destroyed evidence in bad faith.
“The magistrate judge reports and recommends that the district court GRANT the defendant's motion for sanctions (Dkt. 30) and DISMISS with PREJUDICE Mr. Nyugen's complaint and ORDER him to pay Hamilton Exhibits' reasonable attorneys' fees in bringing the motion for sanctions.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The magistrate judge reports and recommends that the district court GRANT the defendant's motion for sanctions (Dkt. 30) and DISMISS with PREJUDICE Mr. Nyugen's complaint and ORDER him to pay Hamilton Exhibits' reasonable attorneys' fees in bringing the motion for sanctions.”
“The magistrate judge recommends that the District Judge enter final judgment and dismiss the plaintiff's complaint without prejudice because the arbitration compelled by the court in granting the defendant's motion to dismiss or stay has not—after more than two years—been initiated.”
“the magistrate judge recommends that the court enter the following sanctions against Alpha Home: ... An entry of default under Rule 55(a) against Alpha Home. ... Alpha Home must pay a $500 fine to the court ... [and] the reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by Ms. Howard”
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 0 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 1 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
A historical record
Judge Lynch no longer sits on this court. 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.