William Caldwell Coleman
How Judge Coleman rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Coleman no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Coleman decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the peanut-butter seizure proceedings, Coleman required complete disclosure when investigators bypassed the statute's prescribed route for obtaining shipping records.
“if the Government sees fit to bypass the prescribed method, then it must be very careful to make full disclosure to the factory owner as to the purpose in asking for the records.”
In Valliant, Coleman treated failure to slow, use a searchlight, post a bow lookout, and carry the required pilot as decisive evidence of negligent navigation.
“he failed to stop or to reduce his speed; to use his searchlight, to post a competent lookout in the bow of his vessel, and last, but by no means least, to have aboard, as required, a first class pilot”
In The Anderson, Coleman required proof of a shipboard custom or a latent hazard before shifting responsibility for an open hatch condition to the vessel owner.
“There is no ground upon which recovery can be had in this case unless there is clear proof of a custom not to leave any of the planks out, or unless, by leaving one or more of them out, the vessel presented a latent hazard”
Procedural preferences
In Maddrix, Coleman treated the appellate mandate as controlling all fee issues already within its scope.
“We must strictly follow the mandate. It is controlling as to all matters within its compass”
In Atlantic Gulf, Coleman recognized liberal amendment of timely bankruptcy claims but would not order a futile distribution after the estate was exhausted through the claimant's delay.
“the allowance of the claim would be a futile act. Petitioner’s own laches are responsible for a condition which the court is powerless to remedy.”
In The Astra, Coleman read protections for seamen broadly when deciding whether a foreign seaman had to post security for costs.
“statutes enacted for their benefit should be liberally construed.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Judgment will be entered therefore for the plaintiff in case No. 6507 and for the Collector in case No. 6483.”
“naturalization must be denied this petitioner at this time”
“an order will be signed granting defendant’s motion for dismissal.”
“I will sign an order granting the motion to impound and to return the evidence taken from the records of the claimant, which means a dismissal of the present proceeding”
“A decree will be signed in accordance with this opinion, in favor of the cargo owner, Rayonier, Inc.”
“the condition under which alone a vessel owner may have the benefit of the statute, has clearly not been met.”
“the specifications must be overruled.”
“An order granting the discharge will be entered.”
“The relief sought by the judgment creditor in his petition for review of the findings of the referee is, therefore, denied”
“are so broad as to permit the continuation of the present suits, without any individual successor to Mr. Porter as plaintiff, but by the Attorney General, in the name of the United States.”
“An order will be signed in accordance with this opinion, dismissing the libel”
“Accordingly, the principal amount of the claim, i.e., $4,654.-26, must be allowed.”
“Therefore we will allow libellant costs and also interest at the rate of four per cent”
“Accordingly, the finding of the referee is affirmed, and the petition of the trustees dismissed.”
“the bill of complaint must be dismissed”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No indexed assigned dockets were returned, so no sampled case mix is reported.
A historical record
Judge Coleman 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.