John Knight
Judge Knight no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Knight decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Knight allowed discovery beyond trial-admissible material only when the requested information remained connected to facts at issue.
“It is true that inquiry as to matter not itself admissible in evidence may be made but such matters only should be inquired about as may have some connection with the facts sought to be proved.”
Procedural preferences
Knight directed parties to discovery tools instead of using a request for a more definite statement to obtain evidentiary detail.
“The words ‘or to prepare for trial’ — eliminated by the proposed amendment — have sometimes been seized upon as grounds for compulsory statement in the opposing pleading of all the details which the movant would have to meet at the trial.”
Knight denied late discovery that threatened an agreed trial date after years of opportunity to obtain the evidence.
“Plaintiff, therefore, has had upwards of seven years in which to procure these depositions.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss the petition is denied, and the order of dismissal heretofore granted directed to be vacated and set aside.”
“Interrogatories Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, are allowed. (2) Interrogatories Nos. 10 and 11 are disallowed. (3) Interrogatories Nos. 12, 13, 14 are allowed. (4) Interrogatories Nos. 15 and 16 are disallowed.”
“The motion in so far as it is directed to discovery and inspection of a list containing the names of the aforesaid employees is granted. The motion in so far as it is directed to require the depositions of such employees to be taken and requiring the defendant to give notice of the arrival of the vessel of the defendant in port and to compel the attendance of said employees as witnesses is denied.”
“The motion to dismiss is granted, and the plaintiff is. allowed twenty days in which to amend, if so advised.”
“The motion in all respects must be denied.”
“The motion of the plaintiff is therefore granted with respect to the above items numbered 2 and 4, with respect to the item numbered 3 concerning the reports and statements made by defendant’s Captain, First Engineer or Third Assistant Engineer, but denied with respect to the item numbered 1 and the item numbered 3 insofar as this relates to the report and statement given by the plaintiff to the Third Assistant Engineer of defendant’s vessel.”
“Defendants’ motion for a bill of particulars is therefore denied.”
“The alleged second cause of action seeks injunctive relief, and it is believed this should stand. Defendant moves to strike the third cause of action on the ground that it is redundant and immaterial. Nothing material is alleged in the third cause that is not alleged in the first cause, and it is stricken out.”
“Defendant’s motion to vacate and set aside the order of this court entered herein on September 11, 1947, is granted.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No electronic docket sample was available for a historical caseload description.
A historical record
Judge Knight 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.