Pamela A. Tynes
How Judge Tynes rules, drawn from 4 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Tynes no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Tynes
Pamela A. Tynes served as a United States magistrate judge for the Western District of Louisiana in Lafayette. Her service was part-time from 1988 to 1991 and full-time from 1991 to 2001.
How Judge Tynes decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Narcisse v. Secretary of Health & Human Services, she recommended benefits after finding the ALJ’s reliance on the Medical-Vocational Guidelines unsupported by the evidence of whether Narcisse could sustain sedentary work.
“Upon review of the record as a whole, I find there is not substantial evidence upholding the Secretary’s determination that Narcisse is not disabled and is able to perform substantial gainful activity.”
In an excessive-force case she applies the Fifth Circuit's three-part significant-injury / clearly-excessive / objectively-unreasonable standard and treats continued force after a suspect is subdued as clearly excessive.
“Officer Goodie’s use of force was clearly excessive to the need as he continued to beat Lewis even after Lewis had been subdued and was falling to the ground.”
In Lewis v. Goodie, Tynes found no basis for Section 1983 municipal liability against the city because the police chief did not hold final policymaking authority. She allowed recovery against the city under Louisiana vicarious-liability law.
“I find no legal basis for city liability under Section 1983 in this case.”
In In re Complaint of Financial Indemnity Co., Tynes recommended denying a pre-suit Rule 27 petition and dismissing the complaint because the petitioner had not established federal jurisdiction for the contemplated action.
“it does not appear that jurisdiction has been established in this case sufficient to permit enforcement of Rule 27.”
Procedural preferences
In Lewis v. Goodie, she found qualified immunity waived because the defendants had not raised it in their pleadings, memoranda, or at trial.
“The affirmative defense of qualified immunity was not raised by the defendants in their pleadings, memoranda or at trial, and was, accordingly, waived.”
In In re Nabors Loffland Drilling Co., she treated counsel’s signed memorandum stating that a Louisiana defendant would join the contemplated suit as a Rule 11 certification and recommended dismissal for lack of federal jurisdiction.
“This allegation is subject to the provisions of F.R.Civ.P. 11 and thus, constitutes a certificate of counsel that Roche will be a party.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“it is my recommendation that the plaintiff be awarded appropriate benefits consistent with an onset date of January 1, 1985.”
“it is my recommendation that the motion as well as the Complaint be DISMISSED for lack of federal jurisdiction.”
“it is my recommendation that the Petition for Perpetuation of Evidence and for Temporary Restraining Order be DISMISSED for lack of federal jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1).”
“Compensatory damages are awarded in favor of Chesley Lewis, Jr. against Officer Melvin Goodie, Officer Anthony DeRousselle, Chief of Police George Menard, and the City of Breaux Bridge jointly and in solido in the sums of $690.00 in special damages, including $510.00 in medicals and $180.00 in lost wages, and $25,000.00 in general damages.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
- As a full-time magistrate judge in the Lafayette Division (1991-2001; part-time 1988-1991), Tynes handled the division's civil referral docket, Social Security disability appeals, prisoner and civil-rights matters, discovery motions, and Rule 27 pre-suit petitions, and, on the parties' consent under 28 U.S.C. 636(c), presided over civil trials.
- The enumerable electronic docket shells carry no retained nature-of-suit detail beyond the caption, so caseload cannot be quantified.
A historical record
Judge Tynes 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.