Conrad K. Cyr
Judge Cyr no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Cyr decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In disability review, he required the agency to connect the evidentiary record to specific findings about the claimant's capacity for basic work rather than rely on a conclusory severity label.
“On remand the Secretary must make specific findings as to plaintiff’s ability to perform basic work activities, applying the severity criteria set out in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1521 and the definition of severity set out above.”
He resolved statutory timing questions through ordinary meaning and the enactment's evident structure, while using legislative history to confirm rather than displace the text.
“The term ‘recruitment’ is to be given its plain meaning”
In diversity cases, he treated a state evidentiary rule as controlling when it closely embodied substantive state policy.
“A federal court should be reluctant to disregard a state statute so closely related to a substantive state legislative policy.”
Procedural preferences
He allowed technical defects in removal papers to be cured when federal jurisdiction actually existed, avoiding an outcome driven solely by pleading form.
“Better, if the jurisdiction in fact exists, to permit the petition to be amended to reflect it. . . .”
Cautions
He enforced statutory pre-suit notice requirements strictly and dismissed without prejudice when a citizen plaintiff gave private defendants no notice before filing.
“The failure to provide 60 days’ notice — indeed, to provide any notice — to these private defendants prior to filing the complaint clearly abrogated the citizen suit provision of the Endangered Species Act.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“After due deliberation, the request is declined.”
“The motion to amend the original removal petition is allowed and the motion for remand is denied.”
“The defendant is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.”
“The motion to dismiss is DENIED.”
“the plaintiff’s motion for new trial is DENIED.”
“The motion for summary judgment in favor of the defendant is hereby GRANTED.”
“NET’S motion for a TRO be DENIED.”
“Sentry’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED.”
“the decision of the Secretary is VACATED and the cause REMANDED to the Secretary for further proceedings in accordance herewith.”
A historical record
Judge Cyr 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.