Francis Joseph Boyle

U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island district Appointed by Jimmy Carter (Democratic) 20 signed orders read

How Judge Boyle decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

Boyle certified unresolved state-law issues when the answer controlled the federal action and authoritative local guidance was absent.

“All proceedings in this action will be stayed pending Certification to the Rhode Island Supreme Court”

He invalidated a government contract award when the agency departed from its own bid terms and improperly rejected responsive low bids.

“the award of Contract No. CG-011738-A to Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. on August 28, 1980, to be invalid.”

Procedural preferences

Boyle permitted voluntary dismissal but would not allow intervention to preserve a federal action after the original dispute disappeared without independent jurisdiction.

“Intervention contemplates an existing lawsuit and cannot be permitted to breathe life into a non-existent suit.”

When a plaintiff placed mental condition in controversy through proposed expert proof, Boyle enforced a properly supported examination request.

“Therefore, I find that “good cause” has been shown.”

Cautions

Boyle required more than a remote chance of success before ordering affirmative preliminary relief.

“the likelihood of Plaintiff’s success in this action is so remote that he cannot be granted preliminary mandatory relief.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Michaelson ex rel. Lewis v. Booth
· 1977-09-02
Declaratory judgment claim (plaintiffs) Granted

“are hereby declared to be invalid insofar as they require a general municipal election to be held on September 13, 1977.”

Motion for permanent injunction (plaintiffs) Granted

“Defendants, their agents and all persons acting by or through their authority, are permanently restrained and enjoined from conducting the next succeeding general municipal election in the City of Newport, on any date other than September 15, 1977”

Old Stone Bank v. Michaelson
· 1977-10-27
Declaratory and injunctive claim (plaintiff bank) Denied

“For the reasons stated herein, Plaintiff has failed to establish at this time the dire consequences it claims will eventuate, and its prayers for relief are denied.”

Fetta v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.
· 1977-12-21
Class certification (plaintiffs) Granted

“Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification is granted.”

Walden III, Inc. v. State of Rhode Island
· 1977-12-22
Summary judgment (defendants) Granted

“Defendants’ Motions for Summary Judgment are granted. All of Plaintiffs’ claims are dismissed, including all alleged non-federal claims.”

Gallo v. Brown
· 1978-01-05
Motion for preliminary mandatory injunction (plaintiff) Denied

“the likelihood of Plaintiff’s success in this action is so remote that he cannot be granted preliminary mandatory relief.”

Rhode Island Hospital v. Califano
· 1978-02-24
Motions to dismiss (United States) Granted

“The Government’s Motion to Dismiss is hereby granted.”

Weiss v. Patrick
· 1978-06-01
Civil rights claim (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiff’s Complaint is denied and dismissed and judgment shall enter for Defendants for their costs.”

Sabatier v. Dambrowski
· 1978-07-07
Habeas petition (extradition detainee) Granted in part

“The Petitioner’s request for a Writ of Habeas Corpus with respect to the offense of “Causing bodily harm with intent,” is granted. Petitioner’s request for the Writ with respect to the offense of robbery is denied.”

Associates Capital Services Corp. v. Riccardi
· 1978-07-26
Motion to certify state law question and stay (defendant) Granted

“All proceedings in this action will be stayed pending Certification to the Rhode Island Supreme Court of the question of a secured party’s right to a deficiency judgment where there has not been a commercially reasonable disposition of collateral.”

Peltier v. Roy
· 1978-07-28
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment is denied;”

Motions to dismiss (defendant police chief) Denied

“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted is denied;”

Motion for permanent injunction (plaintiff) Denied

“Plaintiff’s prayer for injunctive relief is denied; and the action is dismissed.”

Application of Lafayette Academy, Inc.
· 1978-12-14
Motion for return of property (corporate movants) Granted in part

“Accordingly, movants’ Motions for return of property are granted, except with respect to microfilm records delivered to the Government by Mr.”

Providence Health Centers, Inc. v. Matthews
· 1979-02-08
Motion for voluntary dismissal (plaintiff) Granted

“This action is dismissed without prejudice.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The twenty located assigned dockets span contract, insurance, shareholder, statutory, Social Security, maritime, civil-rights, prisoner, real-property, product-liability, and interstate-commerce matters. The five randomly checked cases were all terminated and retained no entry timeline.

Put Judge Boyle's record to work

Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Boyle actually rules, not a generic AI guess.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Boyle's own signed orders and cites them.