Lacy Herman Thornburg
How Judge Thornburg rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Thornburg no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Thornburg decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Penland, Thornburg weighed relevance, alternative sources, and the asserted need for information before quashing press subpoenas.
“the Court finds that the Plaintiffs do not have a compelling interest in this information.”
Procedural preferences
In Petty, Thornburg allowed an amended disability claim to proceed because the alleged accommodations could support relief if proved.
“If ‘relief could be granted under any set of facts that could be proved consistent with the allegations,’ the motion must be denied.”
Cautions
In Smith, Thornburg emphasized that discrediting an employer’s explanation does not by itself establish unlawful discrimination.
“to substitute for the required finding that the employer’s action was the product of unlawful discrimination, the much different (and much lesser) finding that the employer’s explanation of its action was not believable.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Appellants’ appeal from the Order of U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge George R. *652Hodges dated April 20,1994, is DISMISSED and the decision of the Bankruptcy Court is hereby AFFIRMED.”
“the appeal from the Judgment of U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge George R. Hodges, entered May 6, 1994, is hereby DISMISSED and the Judgment is hereby AFFIRMED.”
“the Defendant’s motion to dismiss or for judgment on the pleadings, converted to a motion for summary judgment, is hereby ALLOWED;”
“the Plaintiffs motion for partial summary judgment is hereby DENIED;”
“the Plaintiffs motion to strike is hereby DENIED as moot.”
“Respondent O’Neal’s motion to quash Plaintiff Penland’s subpoena is GRANTED;”
“Respondent Barber’s motion to quash Plaintiff Penland’s subpoena is GRANTED;”
“the orders of convictions and sentences of the Appellants are hereby AFFIRMED, this appeal is hereby DISMISSED”
“the Defendants’ motions are hereby GRANTED and this action is dismissed as to Defendants Gina Shulimson Hart, Jack Shulimson, Natalie Shulimson Zeitlin, and Bernard Shu-limson.”
“the Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is hereby GRANTED”
“the Bankruptcy Court’s Order denying the motion for approval of assignment of proceeds is hereby AFFIRMED, and the appeal is hereby DISMISSED.”
“the Defendants’ motion to dismiss is ALLOWED.”
“the motion of the United States to dismiss is ALLOWED;”
After a bench trial, Thornburg awarded supplemental retirement benefits but denied accelerated severance benefits and attorney fees; the order stated that “the Plaintiffs are entitled to supplemental retirement benefits, provided that Plaintiff John Rudasill does not engage in activity in violation of paragraph 10 of the Plan”.
“the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment on the claim pursuant to the FMLA is hereby GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The fixed five-docket sample included two miscellaneous matters, an employment case, a contract case, and a land matter. All five cases were terminated, but none had an electronic entry stream, so only case durations and administrative closing categories could be summarized.
A historical record
Judge Thornburg 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.