Sandra L. Townes
How Judge Townes rules, drawn from 10 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Townes no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Townes
Sandra L. Townes was a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Judge Townes received a commission on August 2, 2004. Judge Townes assumed senior status on May 1, 2015 and served until death on February 8, 2018.
How Judge Townes decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Babayev, a suit over an implanted neurostimulator, Townes granted the manufacturer's summary judgment motion on the plaintiff's five claims and denied the plaintiff's spoliation cross-motion. Her analysis addressed federal preemption and the evidence offered for the claims.
“Defendant now moves for summary judgment, principally arguing that the Medical Device Amendments to the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act preempts each of the five causes of action contained in Plaintiffs Amended Complaint. ... Defendant's motion for summary judgment is granted.”
Procedural preferences
In Odermatt, after the plaintiff's fourth amended complaint failed to state a federal claim, Townes denied further leave to amend because three prior attempts and two opinions explaining the First Amendment claim had not produced a viable pleading. She declined supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims.
“Defendants' motion is granted with respect to all federal claims and Plaintiff is denied leave to replead ... The Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction with respect to Plaintiffs state-law claims.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“motion for judgment on the pleadings is granted in part”
“motion is granted with respect to all federal claims and Plaintiff is denied leave to replead”
“motion for summary judgment is granted”
“Plaintiffs cross-motion for spoliation is denied”
“motion for summary judgment is granted with respect to the first and second causes of action”
“motion for summary judgment is granted with respect to the third cause of action”
“relief is DENIED for the reasons set forth in the Report and Recommendation”
“(1) motions to dismiss the indictment; (2) motion for a bill of particulars; (3) motion in limine to preclude the Government’s witnesses from using the terms ‘terrorist,’ ‘terrorist activity,’ or ‘terrorism’; and (4) motion for immediate Rule 404(b) notice are DENIED”
“a bill of particulars providing additional evi-dentiary details is not required”
“there is no basis to preclude the Government from using words that are central to the case”
“motion for immediate Rule 404(b) notice are DENIED”
“motions to suppress statements are DENIED as moot”
“motion for a taint hearing and motion for discovery of grand jury minutes are DENIED”
“motion to dismiss Count Two as multiplicitous or compel the Government to elect between Counts Two and Three is DENIED”
“motion to withdraw his plea of guilty to the charge contained in the superseding information is denied”
“hereby extends the time for effecting service upon defendants and directs that service be made on or before April 14, 2006”
“Judge Kuo's R&R dated July 31, 2017, recommending that Plaintiffs' Motion (ECF No. 335) be granted and that Plaintiffs' proposed Order (ECF No. 501-1) and proposed Writ of Execution (ECF No. 501-2) be issued, is adopted in its entirety.”
“For the reasons set forth above, the City's motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 261) is denied.”
“Third-party plaintiffs' cross-motions (Docket No. 278) are denied with leave to renew.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The judge carried a general civil and criminal trial caseload in the Eastern District of New York from 2004 until she took senior status in 2015. Her directly-assigned civil docket spanned civil-rights, employment, securities, insurance, consumer-credit, immigration, and habeas matters; many cases resolved by settlement or default rather than a contested dispositive ruling.
A historical record
Judge Townes 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.