Henry Clay Niles
Judge Niles no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Niles decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Niles protected contractual rights that arose before a later state-court interpretation changed the governing rule.
“When contracts and transactions have been entered into, and rights have accrued thereon, under a particular state of the decisions, or when there has been no decision, of the state tribunals, the federal courts properly claim the right to adopt iheir own interpretation of the law applicable to the case”
Niles enforced the public-works contract's delegation to the engineer absent fraud or a gross mistake.
“His decision, therefore, was final, except gross mistake or fraud be shown. Certainly there appears not the slightest trace of fraud and no determination which can be characterized as gross mistake.”
Procedural preferences
Niles declined a contractual forfeiture that was disproportionate to the proven breach after allowing direct completion costs.
“the court is of opinion that this forfeiture, in connection with the relief suggested above, is disproportionate to the breach, and should not be allowed.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“I find no error in the finding of the referee, and his conclusions are affirmed.”
“Special finding of referee confirmed, and bankrupt discharged.”
“a discharge will be denied the bankrupt. I concur fully in the findings of the referee.”
“I will sustain the motion and instruct the jury to find for the defendant.”
“the court, in view of the foregoing, must sustain the finding of the referee and deny the bankrupt the exemption claimed.”
“The court is of the opinion that the referee ruled correctly upon this question, and decree should enter accordingly.”
“I find no error in the action of the referee in denying the exemptions, and his conclusions are affirmed.”
“the demurrer to the declaration should he overruled”
“the demurrers to the special pleas (from the third to the fifteenth, inclusive) should be sustained”
“plaintiffs are not entitled to the relief as prayed in their bill.”
“any and all additional costs, for completion of plaintiffs’ contract, arising from its abandonment, should be assessed against them.”
“the court is of opinion that this forfeiture, in connection with the relief suggested above, is disproportionate to the breach, and should not be allowed.”
“assignee, in the sum of $1,084.53, with interest, less the amount of the claim of the Tennessee Producers’ Marble Company”
“the Empire State Surety Company is indebted to the Tennessee Producers’ Marble Company to the amount of its claim, to wit, $918.08”
“I therefore conclude that the exceptions to the answer should be sustained.”
“the court agrees with the special master that a decree should enter dismissing complainant’s bill.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reported decisions include bankruptcy, municipal finance, public works, receivership, surety, waterworks, land-use, and contract matters. No historical docket timelines were available for broader caseload analysis.
A historical record
Judge Niles 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.