Leland Clure Morton
How Judge Morton rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Morton no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Morton decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Morton preserved access to a judicial forum when the administrative agency made a bona fide determination that it could not act within the statutory period.
“Persons aggrieved by discriminatory employment practices must be afforded a forum in which to assert their rights, and when the EEOC is unable to act, the district court stands ready.”
Procedural preferences
Morton placed the burden of follow-up on an employer once an employee supplied enough information to indicate potentially protected leave.
“After that, it was the employer’s duty to make further inquiry to determine if the leave qualified for FMLA protection.”
Cautions
Morton followed the circuit’s latest directly analogous decision while acknowledging tension with older authority.
“this court feels compelled to follow Haynie’s directions concerning inquiry into ability to pay until such time as the Sixth Circuit gives additional guidance.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability (Docket No. 14) is hereby granted.”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment (Docket No. 18) is denied.”
“Defendant’s motion to strike (Docket No. 25) is granted in part and denied in part.”
“Finally, plaintiffs motion to strike (Docket No. 29) is granted.”
“For the reasons set forth above, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“Therefore, the defendants’ motions for summary judgment are granted.”
“The plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings is denied.”
“the defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s state-law claim for punitive damages (Docket No. 43) is granted.”
“The plaintiffs motion to amend his complaint to add a common-law claim for retaliatory discharge (Docket No. 53) is denied.”
“the defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment is hereby granted.”
“As explained below, the court grants the motion in part.”
“For the reasons discussed below, the court grants the defendant partial relief from the August 30, 1988 order.”
“the Secretary’s motion for summary judgment is denied”
“the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is granted”
“summary judgment should be granted in favor of defendants”
“the court has determined to grant the latter and deny the former.”
“plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order must be denied”
“defendants’ motion to dismiss must be granted”
“plaintiff’s request for an injunction must be denied”
“the Government’s motion for substitution must be granted.”
“the Government’s motion to dismiss must also be granted.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The surviving case index does not provide a representative motion timeline. This profile therefore makes no claim about complete caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Morton 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.