Hiram Hamilton Ward
How Judge Ward rules, drawn from 19 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Ward no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Ward decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Nelson, Ward allowed an amended wrongful-death theory where the prior administrative claim had already given the government notice of the incident and liability theories.
“Decedent’s ‘claim’ acquainted defendant with the incident out of which the present lawsuit evolved.”
Procedural preferences
In Witcher, Ward quashed defective service but allowed time to attempt another method before dismissing the case.
“since service on defendant might be accomplished by other means, the case should not be dismissed until plaintiff has had an opportunity to explore those methods.”
Cautions
In Fleming, Ward emphasized that an unopposed motion still required an independent merits determination.
“A motion is not granted simply because it is uncontested. The trial court must always make an independent determination that the motion is meritorious.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“it is ordered that the defendant’s motion to dismiss be, and the same hereby is, allowed; and that the complaint be, and the same hereby is, dismissed with prejudice.”
“It is, therefore, ordered that the service on E. D. Michael, Jr., should be, and hereby is, quashed.”
“It is further ordered that defendant’s motions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted are denied without prejudice to their being raised again should proper service be obtained.”
“Plaintiffs’ request for injunctive and declaratory relief is, therefore, denied.”
“the motion of the plaintiffs for voluntary dismissal, which has been treated by the Court as a motion pursuant to Rule 41(a)(1), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED.”
“It is, therefore, ORDERED that the defendant’s motion for summary judgment be granted and the action dismissed.”
“defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to that portion of plaintiff’s action based on 42 U.S.C. § 1981 be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED”
“the motion for summary judgment in favor of the defendant should be granted and the plaintiff’s action should be dismissed.”
“defendant’s*, motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56, Fed.R. Civ.P., will be granted”
“IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that the defendant’s motion be, and the same hereby is, DENIED.”
“the defendant Maryland National Bank’s motions to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for lack of personal jurisdiction be, and the same hereby are, GRANTED”
“the defendant Safford Mercury Lincoln’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction as to the plaintiffs’ claim under the Magnuson-Moss Act be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED, and that the remainder of Safford’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and its additional motion to dismiss for improper venue be, and the same hereby are, DENIED.”
“the remainder of Safford’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and its additional motion to dismiss for improper venue be, and the same hereby are, DENIED.”
“the United States’ motion for summary judgment be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED”
“the defendant Welbom's motion for summary judgment be, and the same hereby is, DENIED.”
“the defendant Welborn’s counterclaim be, and the same hereby is, DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“the Court finds that the plaintiffs are entitled to *379judgment as a matter of law.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The fixed five-case sample contained four land-related civil matters and one criminal matter; none had an electronic motion timeline.
A historical record
Judge Ward 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.