Peter Bray
How Judge Bray decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security appeals he reaches opposite results on the merits of the ALJ decision: he recommends remand for the claimant where the record warrants it (Kevin C.) and affirmance for the Commissioner where the decision is supported (Hernandez) -- the cross-MSJ posture is decided on the substantial-evidence record, not a default lean.
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment be granted, that the Commissioner's motion for summary judgment be denied, and that the case be remanded for further administrative proceedings.”
Procedural preferences
His dispositive output in civil consent/referral cases comes overwhelmingly through cross-motion summary judgment; recommendations are typically adopted without objection, and where objected to they have been overruled (Sweeney).
“On July 24, 2023, Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court deny Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, grant Defendant's motion for summary judgment ... Plaintiffs filed objections. ... Plaintiffs' objections are overruled.”
Cautions
In first-party insurance suits he has recommended full summary judgment for the insurer, resulting in dismissal with prejudice (Rivera v. AmGuard); a plaintiff with a thin coverage record should expect rigorous MSJ scrutiny.
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court grant Defendant AmGuard Insurance Company's motion for summary judgment. ... This case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
Motion outcomes
Counted from classified signed orders only. Percentages are shown only where the sample is large enough to be meaningful; smaller samples are reported as raw counts.
| Summary judgment N = 8 |
Granted: 5Denied: 3 | counts only |
| Motion for new trial N = 1 |
Denied: 1 | counts only |
A "1 of 1" is one ruling, not a tendency. Treat small samples as illustrative, not predictive.
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment be granted, that the Commissioner's motion for summary judgment be denied, and that the case be remanded for further administrative proceedings. (D.E. 12.) No objections were filed. ... the court hereby ADOPTS the Memorandum and Recommendation as this court's opinion.”
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that ... the Commissioner's motion for summary judgment be denied, and that the case be remanded for further administrative proceedings.”
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court grant Defendant AmGuard Insurance Company's motion for summary judgment. ECF No. 29. ... No objections were filed. The court has reviewed the recommendation de novo and finds no error in law or fact. The court therefore ADOPTS the memorandum and recommendation ... This case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court deny Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, grant Defendant's motion for summary judgment, and dismiss the case without prejudice. (D.E. No. 69.) Plaintiffs filed objections. (D.E. 70.) Plaintiffs' objections are overruled. ... the court hereby ADOPTS the Memorandum and Recommendation as this court's opinion.”
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court deny Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, grant Defendant's motion for summary judgment, and dismiss the case without prejudice.”
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court grant Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and deny Plaintiff's Motion for a New Trial. ECF No. 64. ... No objections were filed. The court ADOPTS the memorandum and recommendation as its memorandum and opinion.”
“Magistrate Judge Peter Bray recommended that the court grant Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and deny Plaintiff's Motion for a New Trial.”
“Judge Bray made findings and conclusions and recommended that Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Dkt. No. 13), be denied ... (2) Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Dkt. No. 13), is DENIED;”
“that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Dkt. No. 16), be granted; and that Defendant's final decision be affirmed. ... (3) Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. No. 16), is GRANTED; and (4) Defendant's final decision is AFFIRMED.”