Gerald L. Rushfelt
How Judge Rushfelt rules, drawn from 2 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Rushfelt no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Rushfelt
Gerald L. Rushfelt served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Kansas beginning in 1985. He retired in 1999 and later continued to hear matters on recall, including assignments in the District of Nebraska.
How Judge Rushfelt decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Boles v. BNSF Railway, Rushfelt allowed a Rule 35 physical examination after the scheduling deadline because the defendant had not known the plaintiff would object until shortly before the exam. He accepted a motion identifying the time, place, and doctor despite leaving details of scope and manner for the parties to resolve.
“As Defendant was unaware of Plaintiff’s intention to object to the examination, Defendant has shown good cause for an extension of the deadline for completing a Rule 35 examination.”
In Rodriguez Chevere v. Epic Landscape Productions, Rushfelt rejected counsel’s attempt to withdraw by filing a notice when no substitute attorney had appeared. He required a proper motion addressing the client notices and service required by the local rule.
“The Court knows of no rule that authorizes counsel to simply file a paper to announce his withdrawal and thus abandon his client, particularly when there is no new counsel to fulfill his responsibilities to the Court, to his client, and to opposing counsel.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT Defendant's Motion for Rule 35 Examination and to Extend Time (doc. 73) is sustained. Plaintiff shall submit to a physical examination by Dr. Ernest Neighbor at the doctor's professional office in Independence, Missouri, at a date and time mutually convenient to the parties.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT that the Motion to Withdraw (ECF 14) filed by Plaintiff's counsel is denied without prejudice.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 19 days (N = 19).
Rushfelt handled referred discovery and case-management matters across the district judges' civil dockets, as well as dispositive recommendations. During recall service, he also accepted assignments in other districts, including the District of Nebraska by designation.
A historical record
Judge Rushfelt 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.