David R. Grand
How Judge Grand rules, drawn from 11 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Grand
David R. Grand is chief United States magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. He joined the magistrate bench in November 2011 after clerking for District Judge Bernard A. Friedman and practicing law in Ann Arbor.
Judge Grand's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Grand, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Motions
If a motion, response or reply includes exhibits totaling more than 20 pages, then in addition to the electronically filed copy, a courtesy copy of the motion and exhibits shall be provided to the court’s chambers.
“If a motion, response or reply includes exhibits totaling more than 20 pages, then in addition to the electronically filed copy, a courtesy copy of the motion and exhibits shall be provided to the court’s chambers.”
Discovery
The list should be e-filed at least two (2) business days prior to the hearing.
“The list should be e-filed at least two (2) business days prior to the hearing.”
Conferences
Trial counsel and all persons with ultimate and final settlement authority must be present.
“Trial counsel and all persons with ultimate and final settlement authority must be present.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026).
- Procedures for Access, Service, and Management of Sealed Documents ↗
- Procedures for the Filing, Service and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Standing Order for Discovery and Inspection and Fixing Motion Cut-Off Date in Criminal Cases ↗
- Pro Se Filings (Revised & Amended) ↗
- Filing a New Civil Case or Civil Initiating Papers Under Seal ↗
How Judge Grand decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Marshall v. Colvin, he recommended granting the claimant's summary-judgment motion, denying the Commissioner's motion, and remanding the disability appeal; the district court adopted his recommendation.
“Magistrate Judge Grand recommends that Marshall's motion be granted; that the Commissioner's motion be denied; and that, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 405(g), the Commissioner's decision be reversed and this case remanded ... Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 8) is GRANTED”
Cautions
In Perkins's prisoner suit, Grand found no material factual question that the plaintiff exhausted his retaliation claims and recommended summary judgment for the defendants.
“Perkins failed to raise a material factual question that he exhausted his retaliation claims, and summary judgment should be granted for Defendants.”
In Vartinelli's prisoner suit, Grand concluded that the alleged outbursts and demeaning language did not state a sufficiently adverse action for a First Amendment retaliation claim.
“Vartinelli’s allegations that Fronczak had ill-tempered outbursts and used demeaning and harassing language against him in retaliation for his pursuing ‘oral and written grievances’ against Fronczak fall short of stating a sufficiently adverse action within the meaning of a First Amendment retaliation claim.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS RECOMMENDED that Fronczak’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 15) be GRANTED.”
“Magistrate Judge Grand recommends that Marshall's motion be granted; that the Commissioner's motion be denied; and that, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 405(g), the Commissioner's decision be reversed and this case remanded ... Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 8) is GRANTED”
“Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 13) is DENIED; The Commissioner's decision is REVERSED; and This case is REMANDED to the ALJ”
“this Court DENIES Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (R. 14) and GRANTS Defendant's motion for summary judgment (R. 16)”
“the parties have waived further review of the Magistrate Judge's Report and accepts his recommended disposition. It follows that this Court DENIES Plaintiff's motion ... and GRANTS Defendant's motion for summary judgment (R. 16)”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 10) be GRANTED, Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 8) be DENIED, and the ALJ's decision be AFFIRMED.”
“the Court finds that the Administrative Law Judge's ('ALJ') conclusion that Plaintiff is not disabled under the Act is supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the Court recommends that the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 10) be GRANTED”
“IT IS RECOMMENDED that Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment on the Basis of Exhaustion (ECF No. 18) be GRANTED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court RECOMMENDS that Howe’s Motion for Default Judgment or, in the Alternative, for Judgment on the Pleadings (ECF No. 16) be DENIED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court RECOMMENDS that Harris’ Motions for Default Judgment (ECF Nos. 18, 19) be DENIED.”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that Defendants’ motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 41(b) (ECF No. 42) be GRANTED, and that Allen’s amended complaint (ECF No. 21) be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Charter’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 41) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE except that the motion is GRANTED as to Palmer’s request for an injunction against any eviction proceedings because that issue is now moot.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Allstate’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 53) is GRANTED to the extent it seeks a declaration that Allstate does not have a statutory obligation under the No-Fault Act to tender payment for medical treatment and care related directly to Dawn Palmer’s July 29, 2024 fall.”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that the Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 14) be DENIED, Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11) be GRANTED to the extent it seeks remand, and that pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this case be REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this Report and Recommendation.”
“IT IS RECOMMENDED that Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment on the Basis of Exhaustion (ECF No. 19) be GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 1 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 1 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 2 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 2 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2020 | 4 | 0 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, not for Judge Grand: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 2,926 | 8.3 months |
| Closed with no court action | 410 | 2.9 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 1,246 | 4.1 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 1,252 | 15.3 months |
| Closed during trial | 18 | 35.8 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 2,926 | 8.3 months |
| Sep 2024 | 2,615 | 7.9 months |
| Sep 2023 | 2,616 | 8.5 months |
| Sep 2022 | 2,541 | 9.2 months |
| Sep 2021 | 2,405 | 10.2 months |
| Sep 2020 | 2,677 | 9 months |
| Sep 2019 | 3,237 | 8.6 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
Draft for Judge Grand with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Grand, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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