William T. Lawrence
How Judge Lawrence rules, drawn from 11 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Lawrence no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Lawrence
William T. Lawrence served as a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Appointed by President George W. Bush, he received his commission on June 30, 2008, assumed senior status on July 1, 2018, and retired effective June 30, 2019.
How Judge Lawrence decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In a jail medical care suit, Lawrence denied the contractor’s motion to dismiss the federal claims because the complaint alleged a lack of policies for timely care and gave the contractor fair notice of the claim.
“CCS's motion to dismiss the Plaintiff's federal claims for failure to state a claim is DENIED in its entirety.”
In Jackson's age-discrimination claim, Lawrence denied the defense summary judgment motion because the circumstantial evidence could let a jury infer that age motivated the termination.
“the evidence described above, if believed, would permit a jury to reasonably infer that age was a motivating factor in the Defendants' decision to terminate him. Therefore, the Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as to Jackson's ADEA claim.”
Procedural preferences
In Williams v. Corizon, Lawrence applied the PLRA exhaustion requirement, granted the defendant summary judgment on that defense, and dismissed the claim without prejudice.
“Strict compliance is required with respect to exhaustion ... The PLRA's exhaustion requirement is not subject to either waiver by a court or futility or inadequacy exceptions.”
In Harper v. Brown, Lawrence denied a state prisoner's § 2254 petition after applying AEDPA deference to ineffective-assistance claims and denied a certificate of appealability because reasonable jurists would not debate the result.
“Harper’s habeas petition does not present such a situation and that petition is therefore denied.”
Cautions
In Jones v. St. Vincent Hospital, Lawrence granted motions to dismiss a Title VII suit because filing a right-to-sue notice had not commenced a complaint within the 90-day period and Jones did not answer the defendants' timeliness argument.
“Jones’ subsequent delay is fatal to her Title VII claim, and Jones does not argue otherwise.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Docket No. 29) is GRANTED.”
“the Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 75) is DENIED.”
“the Defendants' Motion to Strike (Docket No. 100) is DENIED but discovery is reopened to allow the Defendants to depose Dave Vanover and Becky Slusher.”
“the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 27) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.”
“The defendants' motions to dismiss [19] and [27] are granted. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue.”
“The motion for summary judgment [dkt 31] is granted. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue.”
“His petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied because the petition shows on its face the Hughes is not entitled to the relief he seeks. ... Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue.”
“his petition for writ of habeas corpus must be denied and this action dismissed with prejudice. In addition, the court finds that a certificate of appealability should not issue.”
“Harper's motion to appoint counsel [dkt 18] is denied because he has adequately argued the procedural and substantive features of his claims and it is not in the interests of justice that counsel be appointed for him at this late chapter in the case.”
“CCS's motion to dismiss the Plaintiff's federal claims for failure to state a claim is DENIED in its entirety.”
“Corizon's motion for summary judgment, Dkt. No. 28, is granted ... this lawsuit should not have been brought against Corizon and shall now be dismissed without prejudice as to Corizon.”
“Plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment on the merits, Dkt. No. 38, is denied as moot.”
“For the reasons explained above, the United States' motion to dismiss, Dkt. No. 26, is denied.”
“the Court, having considered the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, hereby adopts the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation as set forth in Docket Number 91 in its entirety. [R&R, Doc 91: 'the Magistrate Judge recommends that Economical's Motion be DENIED.']”
A historical record
Judge Lawrence 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.