James Patrick Hanlon
How Judge Hanlon rules, drawn from 22 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Hanlon decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
At final settlement approval, evidence developed through discovery showing a substantial risk of no recovery, combined with the absence of opt-outs or objections, supported approval of the class settlement.
“Similarly, the parties discussed at the fairness hearing that discovery revealed a substantial risk that the class would receive no recovery if they had not reached the Agreement at this stage of the case. There are also no opt-outs and no objectors to the class settlement.”
Procedural preferences
Dismissal with prejudice followed repeated failures to update an address, answer discovery, respond to a show-cause order, or oppose dismissal after explicit warnings, where the delay prejudiced defendants and another opportunity appeared unlikely to produce compliance.
“Mr. Middleton's actions in this case indicate that he is not likely to respond if given yet another opportunity. ‘A district judge need not wait forever. Eventually a plaintiff's failure to cooperate in the prosecution of its own suit leads to dismissal.’”
Cautions
A failure-to-warn theory must identify a latent danger; an obvious and inherent product danger does not create a warning duty under the objective consumer test applied in the order.
“But a TASER weapon's capabilities are an obvious and inherent danger of the weapon, rather than a ‘latent dangerous characteristic’ that triggers a duty to warn.”
Municipal-liability allegations must connect the claimed injury to the municipality's own policy or custom; allegations about individual employees do not supply that link.
“Because, under Monell, ‘a plaintiff must challenge conduct that is properly attributable to the municipality itself,’ her allegations about individual officers' actions do not state a claim.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IDOC Defendants' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. Dkt. [104]. The clerk is directed to terminate defendants Butler, Foster, James, Skinner, Ivy, and Watts from the docket.”
“Defendant's motion to dismiss, dkt. [16], is GRANTED, and the complaint is dismissed with prejudice. ... the United States is immune from liability.”
“Mr. Willsey's motion for summary judgment is denied because his claim has been dismissed. Dkt. [19].”
“Defendant's motion to dismiss, dkt. [8], is DENIED. ... This is a straightforward case with straightforward claims.”
“TransUnion does, however, argue in its motion to dismiss that Ms. Wilson's Amended Complaint fails to sufficiently allege a willful violation of the FCRA. For the reasons below, the motion is DENIED. Dkt. [22].”
“Defendants' motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction is therefore DENIED, dkt. [29], and their motion to stay pending a ruling on their motion to dismiss is DENIED as moot, dkt. [50].”
“their motion to stay pending a ruling on their motion to dismiss is DENIED as moot, dkt. [50].”
“Accordingly, the respondent's motion to dismiss, dkt. [13], is granted, and the petition is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.”
“Defendants' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. Dkt. [75]. Final judgment will issue by separate entry.”
“The IDOC Defendants' motion for summary judgment, dkt. [66], is GRANTED, and the GEO Group Defendants' motion, dkt. [73], is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Plaintiff's Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claims are DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“the GEO Group Defendants' motion, dkt. [73], is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. ... This matter shall proceed on Plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment due-process claims against Defendants Carter, Christian, and Sevier in their individual capacities and The GEO Group under the theory set forth in Monell.”
“Mr. Albrecht therefore has not shown a basis to compel the respondent to produce evidence from outside the state court record, so the motion to compel is DENIED. Dkt. [11].”
“Mr. Albrecht's habeas petition is DENIED. A certificate of appealability SHALL NOT ISSUE.”
“Mr. Osburn's motion for summary judgment, dkt. [66], is granted. All claims against Mr. Osburn are dismissed with prejudice.”
“Mr. Cislo's motion to dismiss all claims against defendant Wexford, dkt.[84], is granted. All claims against Wexford are dismissed with prejudice.”
“The Court has considered and now ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation. Dkt. [182]. The motion to dismiss is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as set forth in the Report and Recommendation. Dkt. [158]. The following defendants are DISMISSED without prejudice...”
“DraftKings's motion to dismiss is GRANTED as to Mr. McAfee's DCSA claims and DENIED as to his breach of contract claim. Dkt. [30].”
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