William Eugene Davis

United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana district Retired 1983 · served 1976–1983 Appointed by Gerald Ford (Republican) 13 signed orders read

Judge Davis no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Davis decides

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

Cautions

Davis applied claim preclusion to prevent a dissatisfied litigant from recasting injuries from the same accident as a new lawsuit.

“As a matter of public policy, there must be a finality to litigation.”

Signed rulings

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

Fruge v. Damson Drilling Co.
· 1976-12-06

After a maritime personal-injury trial, Davis apportioned fault between two vessels and entered a damages judgment for the plaintiff.

Reed v. Angelle
· 1977-01-31
Bankruptcy appeal (debtor Simon Angelle) Denied

“Accordingly, the judgment of Judge An-drus is affirmed and judgment is rendered herein as follows:”

Bankruptcy appeal (creditors Joseph and Rita Sylvester) Granted

“The judgment of Judge Smallenberger is reversed and judgment is rendered herein as follows:”

Bankruptcy appeal (creditor Moses Dyes) Granted in part

“The claim of Moses Dyes is hereby remanded to the Bankruptcy Court for a determination of the extent of work completed by the bankrupt on that job, and for judgment to be rendered in favor of Moses Dyes and against the bankrupt for the difference between the $13,000.00 advanced to the bankrupt and the value of material and services furnished on that job.”

Dow Chemical Co. v. M/V Gulf Seas
· 1977-03-23

Following an admiralty trial, Davis found the barge owner and tug operator equally at fault for the sinking.

Pugh v. Roe
· 1977-08-11

After trial, Davis found two patents valid and infringed and directed submission of an interlocutory judgment.

Guidry v. South Louisiana Contractors, Inc.
· 1977-09-22
Request for indemnification (Messina) Denied

“Accordingly, the claim of Messina for indemnification is denied.”

Request for indemnification (South Louisiana Contractors, Inc.) Denied

“I likewise deny the claim for indemnification asserted by Soloco.”

Bauer v. United States
· 1978-02-28

In a tax-refund action, Davis held that scholarship contributions jointly payable to students and educational institutions qualified for the claimed charitable deduction.

LeBouef v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
· 1978-05-10

Following a products-liability trial, Davis allocated fault and entered damages awards for the injured plaintiffs.

Daigle v. Marine Contractors, Inc.
· 1979-01-31
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“For the foregoing reasons, the defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted. Judgment will be entered by separate instrument dismissing plaintiff’s suit.”

Service Machine & Shipbuilding Corp. v. Edwards
· 1979-02-13
Request for injunction (plaintiffs) Denied

“For the above reasons, plaintiffs’ demands for injunction and declaratory judgment are denied.”

Request for declaratory judgment (plaintiffs) Denied
Rutledge v. Liability Insurance Industry
· 1979-06-07
Motions to strike (plaintiff) Denied

“All of the affidavits filed by defendants are sufficient; plaintiff’s motion to strike them is denied.”

Summary judgment (Employers Insurance of Wausau) Granted

“The motions by Employers and Crum & Forster for summary judgment are granted.”

Summary judgment (Crum & Forster) Granted
Summary judgment (Travelers Insurance Company) Granted

“The motions by defendants Travelers, Aetna and St. Paul are also granted.”

Summary judgment (Aetna Casualty & Surety Company) Granted
Summary judgment (St. Paul Companies, Inc.) Granted
United States v. Offshore Logistics International, Inc.
· 1979-12-20
Summary judgment (defendant employer) Denied

“The motion for summary judgment filed by defendant is denied; the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”

Summary judgment (United States) Granted
Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana v. Harry L. Laws Co., Inc.
· 1980-04-24
Summary judgment (defendant landowners) Granted

“On this basis alone, the defendants’ motions for summary judgment are granted, making it unnecessary to consider any other basis for the motions urged on us by defendants.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

No matching historical assigned-case cohort was located, so this record makes no claim about Davis's district-era caseload mix.

A historical record

Judge Davis no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.