A. David Copperthite
How Judge Copperthite rules, drawn from 7 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Copperthite decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In a consent case concerning a lending app, Copperthite required proof that the interface gave the consumer actual or constructive notice of the arbitration terms. A hyperlink, later emails, and use of the service did not establish assent where the registration screens failed to call adequate attention to the agreement.
“Defendant cannot show that the design of its interface, in either the 2018 or 2019 displays, provided Plaintiff with actual or constructive notice and that Plaintiff assented to the terms and conditions presented in the manner necessary to knowingly form a contract.”
Cautions
In two referred discovery disputes, Copperthite recommended case-ending sanctions only after repeated noncompliance, prejudice, a need for deterrence, and the absence of an effective lesser sanction. These remain recommendations unless the district court adopts them.
“There are no less drastic measures. All four factors in Mutual Federal are satisfied.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count I and Count III is GRANTED. Defendant's Motion as to Count II is DENIED”
“the Court GRANTS the motion for sanctions and awards attorney's fees to Defendant”
“I recommend the Court adopt the findings in this Report and Recommendation and GRANT Plaintiffs Judgment by Default”
“For the reasons set forth in this Memorandum Opinion, Annapolis’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 34) is GRANTED.”
“Because all of the discrete acts alleged in the Amended Complaint are not timely, any amendment relying on those allegations would be futile. The Court will therefore not grant Plaintiff leave to amend.”
“For the reasons set forth herein, I recommend you GRANT the Motion and DISMISS the case with prejudice, assessing costs in the amount of $420.00.”
“Therefore, I recommend granting the Motion for Sanctions and entering a default judgment in favor of Plaintiff for the total amount of the judgment sought.”
“It follows that this Court DENIES Defendant’s Motion to Compel Arbitration and Stay Proceedings.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 138 days (N = 8).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 90 days (N = 1).
- The reviewed caseload is dominated by consent Social Security disability appeals and also includes immigration mandamus matters, contract and insurance disputes, consumer cases, pension-fund collections, warrants, and civil forfeiture.
- In these matters, immigration cases often ended within weeks, while consent Social Security appeals generally took about two to twelve months from dispositive briefing to decision.
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