Karen K. Caldwell

How Judge Caldwell rules, drawn from 16 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Position
district
Appointed by
George W. Bush (Republican)
Commissioned
2001-10-24
Education
Transylvania University, B.A. (1977); University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D. (1980)
Signed orders read
16

How Judge Caldwell decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

Treats capacity to sue as a merits defense under Rule 12(b)(6); a litigant cannot manufacture capacity mid-case by forming a same-name successor entity after the claim accrued.

“Defendants' motion to dismiss (DE 48) is GRANTED; and 3. the Court will enter a judgment consistent with this opinion.”

Cautions

Conducts a careful FTCA analysis, dismissing for lack of jurisdiction where the conduct falls outside the scope of employment or within the discretionary-function exception.

“the United States' motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted (DE 13) is GRANTED.”

Refuses to resolve intent or credibility questions on summary judgment, denying the motion and leaving those determinations for the jury.

“defendant Trustgard's motion for summary judgment (DE 198) is DENIED.”

When body-camera footage is integral to the complaint and cited by both parties, Caldwell considers it at the dismissal stage; corroborated probable cause for any one charge defeats a false-arrest claim even if other charges are disputed.

“Upon review of the body-worn camera footage, the only reasonable determination is that Officer Bear had probable cause to arrest King.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Oak 44 Property Management, LLC v. Maddix
5:24-cv-00063-KKC-MAS
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“Defendants' motion to dismiss (DE 48) is GRANTED; and 3. the Court will enter a judgment consistent with this opinion.”

Release lis pendens (defendant) Granted

“Defendants' motion to expedite release of lis pendens (DE 20) is GRANTED to the extent that Oak 44 SHALL REMOVE the lis pendens notice from the Property within fourteen (14) days of the entry of this order”

B.B. v. United States of America
5:24-cv-00200-KKC
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“the United States' motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted (DE 13) is GRANTED.”

Crowe v. Trustgard Insurance Company
5:12-cv-00240-KKC-EBA
Summary judgment (defendant) Denied

“defendant Trustgard's motion for summary judgment (DE 198) is DENIED.”

Norman v. Horton (Estate of Desman LaDuke)
5:22-cv-00300-KKC-MAS
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“the Defendants' motion for summary judgment (DE 57) is GRANTED.”

Scott v. First Southern National Bank
5:16-cv-00281-KKC
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Defendant's motion for summary judgment (DE 66) is GRANTED in full;”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiffs' cross-motion for partial summary judgment (DE 78) is DENIED;”

Worley v. 500 Memorial Dr Kentucky, LLC
5:23-cv-00156-KKC-MAS · 2026-03-24
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted in part

“Defendant Memorial Kentucky's Motion for Summary Judgment (R. 56) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART”

Shanks v. Commissioner of Social Security
5:25-cv-00154-KKC · 2026-07-01
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“The Plaintiff's Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (R. 13) is DENIED”

Kamineni v. University of Kentucky
5:26-cv-00016-KKC · 2026-03-20
Motions to remand (plaintiff) Granted

“The Motion to Remand (R. 3) is GRANTED”

Motions to dismiss (defendant) Moot / procedural

“The Motion to Dismiss (R. 8) is DENIED as MOOT”

Ford v. Nelson
6:25-cv-00071-KKC · 2026-02-20
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“the defendants' motion (R. 5) for partial dismissal is GRANTED”

Livers v. Strohwig Industries, Inc.
5:22-cv-00211-KKC-MAS · 2025-01-21
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“American Drill's motion for summary judgment (DE 73) is GRANTED”

Dizney v. Back
6:24-cv-00069-KKC-HAI · 2025-05-22
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted in part

“Campbell's motion to dismiss (DE 10) is GRANTED and DENIED in part as follows: a. GRANTED with respect to the Plaintiffs' negligent training and supervision claim; and b. DENIED with respect to the Plaintiffs' negligent hiring and retention claim;”

Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“Back's motion to dismiss (DE 35) is DENIED”

Motion to amend (plaintiff) Granted

“the Plaintiffs' motion for leave to file an amended complaint (DE 34) is GRANTED”

Wheeling v. City of Winchester
5:24-cv-00129-KKC-MAS · 2026-05-05
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“that the Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (R. 19) is GRANTED.”

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