Jennifer E. Willis
How Judge Willis rules, drawn from 5 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Willis decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In foreign-discovery proceedings, Willis allowed a narrower, unopposed request where no burden was identified while rejecting broader discovery from a bank branch where production appeared intrusive and unlikely to yield responsive information.
“intrusive considering the posture of this litigation, and the history of these claims.”
In wage-and-hour class certification, she found predominance supported by employer time records and other common proof despite individualized questions about hours and damages.
“Defendants’ time records would be ‘common proof’ for all potential plaintiffs.”
In Social Security review, Willis remanded where the administrative law judge failed to assess the effect of fatigue on attendance and the existing record did not make that omission harmless.
“This failure to specifically discuss all the effects of fatigue”
Procedural preferences
She granted a discovery extension only for specifically identified records supported by deposition testimony, barred other requests, and required extraordinary circumstances for another extension.
“No other discovery requests”
In reviewing a wage settlement, Willis considered the totality of the circumstances and separately assessed compensation to the plaintiff and counsel's fees.
“are fair, reasonable, and adequate, both to redress Plaintiff’s claims in this action”
Cautions
She treated the final FLSA collective-certification request as moot after certifying the overlapping state-law class, while denying defendants' request to decertify the collective.
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Final Collective Certification is DENIED as moot.”
In foreign-discovery litigation, a request was denied where the respondent represented that responsive material was unlikely to be found in New York and compliance would be burdensome.
“no reason to believe that there is any responsive information”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“is DENIED as to KBC NY, but GRANTED as to the Federal Reserve Bank.”
“GRANTED until June 24, 2024, but only for Plaintiffs to provide the requested”
“This request is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Final Collective Certification is DENIED as moot.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Decertify the Collective Action is DENIED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s Motion (Dkt. No. 13) is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The targeted sample contains two wage-and-hour matters, one foreign-discovery proceeding, one disability-access case, and two Social Security appeals; five were terminated and one remained pending at review.
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