Susan J. Hightower
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant's Amended Opening Brief and Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 52), is GRANTED and this case is closed.”
“both Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Dkt. 28), and Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Dkt. 29), are DENIED.”
“Judge Hightower recommends awarding Rebecca Webber $5,000 in attorney's fees... Rebecca Webber is entitled to $5,000 in attorney's fees and expenses under the Western District of Texas Standing Order.”
“Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 51, is DENIED in accordance with the Report and Recommendation.”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Transfer Venue, ECF No. 47, is DENIED in accordance with the Report and Recommendation.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED on Plaintiff's Texas Prompt Payment Act claim and DENIED on Plaintiff's breach of contract claim.”
“Defendant's Partial Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED.”
Judge Hightower screened this self-represented plaintiff's complaint and recommended dismissal without prejudice. No party objected, and Judge Robert Pitman reviewed for clear error and adopted the recommendation. Because the court acted on its own initiative, the screening resolved no party motion.
Judge Hightower issued a recommendation on a Probation Office petition concerning an alleged supervised-release violation. The parties waived objection, and Judge David Counts adopted it after clear-error review. This was a criminal revocation matter rather than a civil party motion; the available adoption order does not state the resulting revocation or sentence.
“TEA's motion to dismiss, (Dkt. 18), is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Plaintiffs' claims under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 are DISMISSED. Plaintiffs' remaining claims survive TEA's motion to dismiss.”
“the Court ADOPTS the Report in full (Dkt. # 42), DENIES Defendant's Motions to Dismiss (Dkts. ## 36, 39)”
“IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees (Dkt. # 45) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“Wenzel's Motion to Dismiss, Or in the Alternative, Motion for Rule 7(a) Reply, (Dkt. 11), is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Plaintiff Michael Teague's Section 1983 First Amendment claims against Wenzel in his official capacity are DISMISSED. Wenzel's motion is DENIED on all other grounds.”
“District 8's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Amended Complaint, (Dkt. 13), is DENIED.”
“Meta's Partial Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. (Dkt. # 23.) The Motion is GRANTED as to Counts II and VII, and those claims are dismissed WITH PREJUDICE. The Motion is DENIED as to Counts I, III, IV, V, and IX. Plaintiff Mullen's request for leave to amend is DENIED.”
“Tanya Galinger's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Original Complaint (Dkt. 7) ... are GRANTED.”
“Defendant Judith DeBerry's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Original Complaint (Dkt. 8) ... are GRANTED.”
“Defendants State Bar of Texas and State Bar Board of Directors' Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 9) ... are GRANTED.”
“Defendant Judge George Gallagher's Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 12) are GRANTED.”
“Motion for Default Judgment Against George Gallagher in his Individual Capacity (Dkt. 25) are DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Judge Hightower sits in the Austin Division and receives referrals from Judges Robert Pitman, Alan D. Albright, and David Counts and Senior Judges James R. Nowlin and David Alan Ezra. She also takes felony guilty pleas by consent under 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(3); those criminal-duty matters are not included in the civil motion counts.
Put Judge Hightower's record to work
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Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Hightower's own signed orders and cites them.