Patrick Michael Duffy
How Judge Duffy rules, drawn from 21 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Duffy no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Duffy
Patrick Michael Duffy was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Appointed by President William J. Clinton, Judge Duffy received a commission on December 26, 1995. Judge Duffy assumed senior status on December 27, 2009 and retired on April 1, 2019.
How Judge Duffy decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Sherby, Duffy required vocational evidence where pain-related concentration limits could affect even unskilled work.
“because some degree of concentration is required for every job, including unskilled jobs, the court does not believe it is clear that Claimant’s nonexertional limitation has very little effect on the entire occupational base for unskilled, light work”
Procedural preferences
In Informaxion Solutions, Duffy ordered targeted jurisdictional discovery before deciding dismissal or transfer on an incomplete record.
“For the foregoing reasons, it-is ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND WITH LEAVE TO REFILE. It is FURTHER ORDERED that jurisdictional discovery shall be completed within forty-five (45) days of the date of this Order.”
Cautions
In Narrl, Duffy applied then-controlling tracking precedent but expressly cautioned that investigators should have sought judicial authorization.
“The better practice in this case would have been to obtain a warrant.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, denying the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation, the court GRANTS Respondents’ Motion for Summary Judgment.”
“Because the court grants summary judgment and dismisses this matter, the court FINDS AS MOOT Petitioner’s Motion to Stay his habeas petition.”
“the court finds the 26.8 hours counsel spent in drafting and editing the brief to be excessive. Accordingly, the court reduces the number of hours Plaintiffs counsel is entitled to recover with respect to drafting and editing the brief to 20 hours. ... Plaintiffs Motion for Attorney’s Fees is hereby GRANTED in the amount of $7620.00.”
“It is, therefore ORDERED, for the foregoing reasons, that Defendants’ Motion for Reconsideration and Certification for Interlocutory Appeal be DENIED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court ORDERS that Plaintiffs Motion to Remand to the Colleton County Court of Common Pleas be DENIED.”
“Based on the foregoing, it is ORDERED that Plaintiff Joseph G. Cherochak, Jr.’s Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment and Motion to Amend Complaint are DENIED.”
“Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendant Dorchester County School District Two’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is GRANTED.”
“Based on the foregoing, it is ORDERED that Third-Party Defendant Cos-co North America, Inc.’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.”
“Based on the foregoing, the court ORDERS that Defendant College of Charleston’s Motion for Summary Judgment be GRANTED.”
“Therefore, the court DENIES Defendant Franklin Joe White’s motion to suppress.”
“It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.”
“the Court finds that the award of attorney’s fees for Mr. Martin and Ms. Naides is unjust. ... Plaintiffs attorney, Paul Townsend McChesney, be awarded eight hundred and twenty-one dollars and twenty-two cents ($821.22) in attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2412.”
“This dismissal, with prejudice, relates only to Plaintiff's ADEA claim. This Order is without prejudice as to any claims Plaintiff may have under the VEOA and/or USERRA.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 55.5 days (N = 10).
A fixed-seed sample of ten terminated matters filed in 2010 included civil-rights, insurance, habeas, consumer, intellectual-property, and tort cases.
A historical record
Judge Duffy no longer sits on this court. 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.