Timothy J. Sullivan

United States District Court for the District of Maryland magistrate 19 signed orders read

How Judge Sullivan decides

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

What persuades

In Poe v. Wal-Mart, Sullivan granted defense summary judgment because the plaintiff lacked evidence of actual or constructive notice and Maryland law did not recognize the proposed mode-of-operation theory.

“Walmart's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 15) is GRANTED.”

In Patterson v. Howard Memorial Hospital, Sullivan granted the employer summary judgment because the plaintiff did not establish causation or pretext on her disability-discrimination and retaliation claims.

“HMR's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 38) will be granted, and judgment will be entered in favor of HMR.”

In Mason v. 7-Eleven, Sullivan granted the franchisor summary judgment because the franchisee was an independent contractor over which the franchisor lacked the right of control required for agency liability.

“7-Eleven's Motion (ECF No. 28) is GRANTED.”

Cautions

In Rush v. O'Malley, Sullivan affirmed the benefits decision because substantial evidence supported the administrative law judge's residual-functional-capacity finding.

“the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11) will be GRANTED.”

Signed rulings

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

Patterson v. HMR of Maryland, LLC
8:21-cv-01333 · 2023-03-20
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“HMR's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 38) will be granted, and judgment will be entered in favor of HMR.”

Poe v. Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust
8:20-cv-03425 · 2022-03-08
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Walmart's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 15) is GRANTED.”

Lampkin v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
8:19-cv-02691 · 2022-04-08
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“WMATA's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 28) is GRANTED.”

Mason v. 7 Eleven, Inc.
8:22-cv-01559 · 2024-03-29
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“7-Eleven's Motion (ECF No. 28) is GRANTED.”

Bosslet v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
1:12-cv-02392 · 2013-10-25
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 21) is GRANTED.”

Barber v. Berryhill
1:17-cv-01453 · 2018-05-10
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Mr. Barber's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 18) will be DENIED, and the Acting Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 19) will be GRANTED.”

Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“the Acting Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 19) will be GRANTED.”

Brewer M. v. O'Malley (Commissioner, Social Security Administration)
8:23-cv-00341 · 2024-02-12
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Brewer M.'s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 10) will be DENIED, and the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11) will be GRANTED.”

Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11) will be GRANTED.”

Dillard v. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
8:24-cv-01154 · 2025-07-24
Motion for sanctions (defendant) Granted

“Defendant’s Motion for Sanctions is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”

Motions to stay (defendant) Moot / procedural

“Defendant’s Motion to Stay Proceedings (ECF No. 52) is DENIED AS MOOT.”

Dillard v. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
8:24-cv-01154 · 2025-04-04
Motions to compel (defendant) Granted

“Defendant’s Motion to Compel (ECF No. 43) is GRANTED.”

Motion for leave to file (plaintiff) Denied

“Exhibit (ECF No. 41) is DENIED without prejudice to renewal at the appropriate time.”

United States v. Goldstein
8:25-cr-00006 · 2025-02-13
Motion to revoke detention (defendant) Granted

“Mr. Goldstein’s Motion (ECF No. 44) is GRANTED.”

Moore v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
8:24-cv-02891 · 2025-05-30
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“WMATA’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 15) is GRANTED.”

Magassouba v. Prince George's County
8:23-cv-00767 · 2025-03-26
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted in part

“the Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 315 days (N = 18).

Median motion-to-ruling time: 81 days (N = 1).

The sampled consent caseload includes personal-injury and motor-vehicle negligence actions, employment-discrimination claims, Social Security disability appeals, multiemployer-benefit-fund collections, insurance disputes, and removed contract and consumer matters. Transit-authority and other personal-injury cases are prominent in the sample, while the reviewed benefits appeals generally lasted about ten to fourteen months.

Put Judge Sullivan's record to work

Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Sullivan actually rules, not a generic AI guess.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Sullivan's own signed orders and cites them.