William G. Cambridge
How Judge Cambridge rules, drawn from 5 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Cambridge no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Cambridge
William G. Cambridge was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Judge Cambridge received a commission on June 6, 1988. Judge Cambridge retired on July 11, 2000.
How Judge Cambridge decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Watts v. Butte School District No. 5, Cambridge adopted the magistrate judge’s recommendation and granted summary judgment on three federal claims because the plaintiff had executed a valid release. He found the defendants’ alleged breach was not substantial enough to undo that release.
“the plaintiff executed a valid release of those causes of action”
In Marianna Imports v. Helene Curtis, Cambridge dismissed a Nebraska declaratory-judgment action because an earlier patent suit was already proceeding in Illinois. He considered the parties’ notice, witness convenience, and the Illinois suit’s more advanced discovery.
“After considering all of the relevant factors, the Court finds that this action should be dismissed.”
Procedural preferences
In Friedman v. Fidelity Service Corp., Cambridge decided a Rule 12(c) motion on the pleadings despite the defendants’ affidavits. He found conversion to summary judgment unnecessary because the statutory garnishee discharge issue could be resolved on the pleadings, and granted judgment for the defendants.
“The defendants have submitted additional evidence in the form of numerous affidavits and the parties have stipulated that if the Court treats the motion as one for summary judgment the plaintiff may also submit additional evidence ... The Court finds that this is unnecessary and will rule on the motion for judgment on the pleadings.”
Cautions
In Glass v. Bemis, Cambridge granted summary judgment on an employment discrimination claim after finding no evidence that the employer’s decision-makers acted with discriminatory animus. He treated comments by a coworker outside management as insufficient to establish a mixed-motives claim.
“In the present case, Plaintiff has provided no evidence reflecting a discriminatory attitude on the part of the employer’s decision-makers which would have been a motivating factor in the company’s decision to terminate her employment.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“THIS MATTER IS before the Court on the defendant's motion to dismiss, pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1), (filing no. 3). The Court finds that the motion should be granted.”
“the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings and for joinder of an indispensable party, (filing no. 22), is granted; ... this action is dismissed.”
“the defendants' motion for summary judgment (filing 30) is granted; and ... this action is dismissed with prejudice.”
“This matter is before the Court on Defendant's motion for summary judgment (filing 72). After carefully considering the pleadings, Defendant's brief and evidence, and the [case] law, the Court finds that the motion should be granted.”
Judicial review of a final decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services denying Social Security disability benefits to a claimant with cauda equina syndrome. This was review of an agency decision rather than a party-motion ruling. The court affirmed the Secretary because substantial evidence supported the administrative law judge's non-disability finding, so the claimant's challenge failed.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
- Sample of 10 terminated dockets assigned to William G.
- Cambridge: his late-career (1998-2000) cases.
- A small, late-tenure slice (he retired 2000-07-11), NOT a tenure-wide caseload.
- Nature-of-suit mix is broad federal-trial-court fare: personal-injury (motor vehicle), employment civil rights, insurance, contract, copyright, recovery of student loans, prisoner 2255, and a drug-related civil forfeiture, plus a criminal case.
A historical record
Judge Cambridge no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.