John Trice Nixon

How Judge Nixon rules, drawn from 9 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Nixon no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
Position
district
Status
Deceased
Served
1980–2019
Appointed by
Jimmy Carter
Commissioned
1980-05-12
Education
Harvard University, A.B. (1955); Vanderbilt University Law School, LL.B. (1960)
Signed orders read
9

How Judge Nixon decides

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

What persuades

Nixon enforced the plan’s text according to its ordinary wording rather than rewriting it to fit the claimant’s preferred tax treatment.

“The Court will not amend this provision, but rather will allow the plan administrator to give it its literal and natural meaning.”

Procedural preferences

Nixon treated a weak single-expert methodology as a case-dispositive risk when expert proof was essential to causation.

“Plaintiffs that rely on one expert, who himself relies on one questionable type of analysis, run the risk of having their case dismissed on summary judgment.”

Cautions

Nixon declined extraordinary relief that would interfere with another federal court’s appellate process.

“the Court is concerned that it lacks the authority to enjoin a party from appealing a district court decision to the United States court of appeals.”

Signed rulings

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

Thomas v. Meharry Medical College
· 2014-02-20
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED and this case is DISMISSED.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Moot / procedural

“Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment, Defendant’s Second Motion to Dismiss, and Defendant’s Motion to Ascertain Status are TERMINATED AS MOOT.”

Motions to dismiss (defendant) Moot / procedural
Motion to ascertain status (defendant) Moot / procedural
Motions to strike (defendant) Moot / procedural

“Defendant’s Motion to Strike is TERMINATED AS MOOT as it relates to Defendant’s request that the Court strike Plaintiffs summary judgment proof.”

Gentry v. Principal Life Insurance
· 2011-03-31
Motion to dismiss or for summary judgment (defendant) Moot / procedural

“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss or for Summary Judgment on the grounds that Plaintiffs state law claims are preempted by ERISA is hereby DENIED as moot.”

Motion for judgment on the record (plaintiff) Denied

“the Court DENIES Plaintiffs Motion”

Motion to deny relief (defendant) Granted

“GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Deny Relief.”

Shelter Mutual Insurance v. Gregory
· 2008-01-08
Motions to dismiss (Robert H. Gregory) Denied

“Defendant Gregory’s Motion to Dismiss is DENIED”

Summary judgment (United States) Granted in part

“Defendant United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”

Motions to strike (United States) Denied

“The Court, therefore DENIES the United States' Motion to Strike Gregoiy’s Opposition to Summary Judgment”

Bredesen v. Rumsfeld
· 2007-06-26
Motions to dismiss (Secretary of Defense) Granted

“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Moot / procedural

“Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as moot.”

Grier v. Goetz
· 2006-03-15
Motion to alter or amend judgment (Tennessee Hospital Association) Granted

“the Court GRANTS THA’s Motion to Amend Judgment”

Motion for partial new trial (Tennessee Hospital Association) Denied

“THA’s Alternative Motion for a Partial New Trial is DENIED.”

Coffey v. Dowley Manufacturing, Inc.
· 2002-02-19
Motion to exclude expert (Dowley Manufacturing, Inc.) Granted

“the Court hereby STRIKES Dr. Wilson’s proffered expert testimony.”

Summary judgment (Dowley Manufacturing, Inc.) Granted

“Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is hereby GRANTED”

Motion to exclude expert (Goodyear) Granted
Summary judgment (Goodyear) Granted
Castillo v. Envoy Corp.
· 2002-04-08
Class certification (plaintiffs) Granted

“the Court will grant Plaintiffs Motion.”

In re Fields
· 1997-03-26
Summary judgment (movants) Granted

“the Court hereby GRANTS Movants’ Motions for Summary Judgment and to Dismiss for lack of jurisdiction”

Motions to dismiss (movants) Granted
Motions to strike (petitioner) Moot / procedural

“Motion to Strike American Underwriting Managers’ Answer, Doc. No. 62) are hereby DISMISSED as MOOT.”

United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum & Plastic Workers v. Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corp.
· 1994-12-20
Injunctive relief (plaintiffs) Denied

“the Court denies Plaintiffs’ motion for injunctive relief and for sanctions.”

Motion for sanctions (plaintiffs) Denied

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The sampled closed matters include education, insurance, military administration, products liability, institutional reform, securities, and Social Security review. This purposeful sample does not describe the full caseload.

A historical record

Judge Nixon 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.