David Singleton Doty
How Judge Doty decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On a renewed motion to dismiss, Doty treats fact-bound equitable defenses (in pari delicto, apportionment of fault) as unsuited to the pleading stage — they require a developed record. A defendant who needs the court to weigh competing culpability to win dismissal will usually have to wait for summary judgment.
“At this stage in the proceedings, however, the court cannot determine the extent to which Associated Bank participated in and benefitted from the Ponzi scheme. ... As a result, dismissal on the basis of in pari delicto is not warranted at this time.”
Denies leave to amend as futile when the proposed amendment could not survive a motion to dismiss. Moving to amend in front of him requires a viable theory, not just a new label — futility is an independent ground for denial.
“An amendment is futile when it would not survive a motion to dismiss. ... Because Hennepin County is no longer a defendant in this case, however, Joiner has no basis on which to proceed with the conspiracy claim. As a result, the amendment would be futile and the motion to amend must be denied.”
Procedural preferences
Strictly enforces the magistrate judge's pretrial scheduling order. A party that fails to respond to a dispositive motion within the scheduling-order window risks having it granted by default, and a late extension request must clear Rule 6(b)'s excusable-neglect bar — months of delay will not.
“Plaintiff attempted to seek an extension more than four months after the deadline to respond had passed. ... Finally, plaintiff’s pro se status does not excuse him from complying with court orders.”
Requires a summary-judgment movant to actually carry the Celotex burden of identifying the record basis for the motion; a conclusory MSJ asserting the opponent has no defense is summarily denied.
“The court summarily denies the motion because Joiner has failed to support his motion as required.”
Cautions
Holds pro se litigants to the same procedural and limitations rules as represented parties: pro se status does not toll a statute of limitations or excuse non-compliance with court orders. Liberal construction of pro se pleadings does not extend to forgiving missed deadlines or unpleaded elements.
“A plaintiff’s pro se status does not constitute grounds to equitably toll the statute of limitations.”
Motion outcomes
Counted from classified signed orders only. Percentages are shown only where the sample is large enough to be meaningful; smaller samples are reported as raw counts.
| Motions to dismiss N = 4 |
Granted: 2Granted in part: 1Denied: 1 | counts only |
| Summary judgment N = 2 |
Denied: 2 | counts only |
| Motion to dismiss or summary judgment N = 1 |
Granted: 1 | counts only |
| Preliminary injunction N = 1 |
Denied: 1 | counts only |
| Motion to amend N = 1 |
Denied: 1 | counts only |
| Motions to compel N = 1 |
Moot / procedural: 1 | counts only |
A "1 of 1" is one ruling, not a tendency. Treat small samples as illustrative, not predictive.
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss [Docket No. 6] is granted as to counts A, C, E and G of plaintiff’s complaint. ... Defendant’s motion to dismiss [Docket No. 6] is denied without prejudice as to counts B and D”
“Defendants’ motion to dismiss and for summary judgment [Doc. No. 21] is granted. ... This action is dismissed with prejudice.”
“Plaintiff’s pro se motion to compel discovery [Doc. No. 34] is denied as moot.”
“The motion to dismiss [ECF No. 4] is granted”
“The motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 8] is denied”
“The motion for a temporary injunction [ECF No. 12] is denied.”
“Accordingly, based on the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion to dismiss [ECF No. 70] is denied.”
“The motion to strike and dismiss [ECF No. 34] is granted as set forth above”
“The motions to amend or supplement [ECF Nos. 32, 37, 42] are denied”
“The motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 48] is denied without prejudice.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 112 days (N = 1).
From search_dockets(mnd, assigned_judge=Doty). Recent assignments (2026) are dominated by alien-detainee § 2241 habeas petitions and criminal matters; older terminated civil cases include Ponzi-receivership fraud, civil-rights, securities, and tax disputes. Senior judge (since 1998) still actively assigned cases in 2026.