Morris Ames Soper
How Judge Soper rules, drawn from 28 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Soper no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Soper decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A lender's control over assigned receivables distinguished valid collateral from an arrangement that left the borrower with unfettered dominion.
“the right to use the money was withheld at the time the assignment was made, and was granted only, as to each account, after the proceeds had been collected and placed within the bank’s control.”
The full medical record, including later testimony, defeated an administrative finding that an injured worker retained earning capacity.
“when all of the testimony is taken together, and careful consideration is given to that which was offered at the last hearing, there was no substantial testimony which warranted the conclusion that the injured man was able to perform some remunerative labor”
Procedural preferences
Delay in seeking interim patent relief weighed against a preliminary injunction when the plaintiff already possessed the relevant information.
“If these circumstances were such as to indicate apprehension of irreparable damage on the part of the plaintiff, one would expect to find that a suit for preliminary and permanent injunction would be promptly instituted.”
Personal jurisdiction rested on the practical substance of a foreign company's local solicitation, collections, and dealer supervision.
“His manifold activities constituted a part of the company’s business in Maryland so substantial as to warrant the inference that it was there present.”
Cautions
A useful or functional part of an article could not serve as a trademark that would confer a perpetual monopoly over the product.
“if it forms a useful and functional part of the whole, it is not a valid trade-mark”
A land-sale agreement already executed in equity before bankruptcy did not become an assumable executory contract merely because conveyance remained incomplete.
“The contract for the sale of the land was not an executory contract”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The petition for the writ of habeas corpus is hereby dismissed.”
“The specifications in opposition to the discharge are accordingly overruled, and the discharge will be granted.”
“The assignments executed from July 9 to December 3 were valid, and the bank is entitled to the proceeds of the accounts”
“The petition must be dismissed.”
“The bill of complaint will be dismissed.”
“The petition of the Reliance Shoe Company will be dismissed.”
“The bill of complaint will be dismissed.”
“The prayer of the petition will be granted.”
“The motion to dismiss the bill of complaint will be overruled.”
“The petition must be dismissed, and the referee sustained.”
“A decree will be signed, directing the Alien Property Custodian to convoy an undivided one-half interest in the land to Ernst Ottomar Yon Seliwerdtner.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Soper's reported District of Maryland decisions include bankruptcy, admiralty, patent, trademark, tax, trust, insurance, compensation, commercial, and habeas matters. The reviewed publications do not support a quantified caseload estimate.
A historical record
Judge Soper 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.