Robert J. Shelby
How Judge Shelby rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Shelby decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In an ERISA and mental-health-parity case, Judge Shelby dismissed only the conceded, unexhausted portion of the claims while leaving the remaining facility-related claims intact.
“the court grants Defendants' Motion to Dismiss with prejudice insofar as it relates to Plaintiffs' claims for F.C.'s treatment at Elements. Plaintiffs' claims stemming from F.C.'s treatment at Catalyst under ERISA and the MHPAEA remain intact. ... For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.”
Procedural preferences
In consolidated tithing litigation, the court stayed discovery under ordinary docket-management factors and declined to reach an unnecessary constitutional issue at that stage.
“Now before the court is Defendants' Motion to Stay Discovery pending the court's resolution of Defendants' Motions to Dismiss. For the following reasons, the court GRANTS the Motion. ... all case management-related requirements and deadlines applicable to this matter ... remain stayed until the court resolves Defendants' Motions to Dismiss”
Cautions
In a settlement-enforcement dispute, the court relied on the agreement's execution language and the parties' conduct to find no binding oral settlement, granting one summary-judgment motion and denying the other.
“Kendall's motion for summary judgment on the City's counterclaim is granted. The City's motion is denied. The City's counterclaim is dismissed with prejudice.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the court grants Defendants' Motion to Dismiss with prejudice insofar as it relates to Plaintiffs' claims for F.C.'s treatment at Elements. Plaintiffs' claims stemming from F.C.'s treatment at Catalyst under ERISA and the MHPAEA remain intact. ... For the foregoing reasons, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.”
“the Valentines' Motion to Amend is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Specifically, the court affirms its finding that the damages to the Valentines' home are not covered because the Valentines and Alpine Design did not comply with two of the Policy's provisions. However, the court finds it erred in dismissing the Valentine's breach of fiduciary duty claim and reverses its grant of summary judgment on that claim.”
“Kendall's motion for summary judgment on the City's counterclaim is granted. The City's motion is denied. The City's counterclaim is dismissed with prejudice.”
“Now before the court is Defendants' Motion to Stay Discovery pending the court's resolution of Defendants' Motions to Dismiss. For the following reasons, the court GRANTS the Motion. ... all case management-related requirements and deadlines applicable to this matter ... remain stayed until the court resolves Defendants' Motions to Dismiss”
“the court GRANTS IN PART Plaintiff's Motion for Attorney Fees. Plaintiff, as the prevailing party, is entitled to costs in the amount of $5,710.09 ... Plaintiff is also entitled to a total attorney fee award of $275,919.36, calculated by taking the total requested amount of $375,863.86 and subtracting $2,765 for time spent on the failed mediation, $2,645 for time spent on the short form discovery motion, $665 for the issues related to Ted Hansen's testimony, $83,012.50 for time spent on the Motions in Limine, and $10,857 for having completely redacted various time entries.”
“the court GRANTS Defendants' Motion to Dismiss and DENIES as moot the Preliminary Injunction Motion”
“DENIES as moot the Preliminary Injunction Motion”
“the court DENIES Defendants' Motion to Dismiss”
“GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case.”
“is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE and may be resubmitted after the January 17, 2025 fact-discovery”
“Having reviewed the Motion and associated briefing, the court GRANTS Defendants' Motion.”
“King's lack-of-notice claim is dismissed with prejudice. As no claims survive, the Clerk of Court is directed to close the case.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court GRANTS the Motion to Set Aside 23 and DENIES as moot the Motion for Default Judgment. 24”
“For the reasons explained below, the court DENIES the Motion.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 126 days (N = 9).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 157 days (N = 4).
Judge Shelby carries a general civil and criminal docket. The sampled matters include employee benefits and mental-health-parity claims, insurance coverage, copyright, commercial contracts, Social Security appeals, prisoner civil-rights cases, post-conviction motions, and criminal cases. The sample describes subject matter rather than the frequency of any outcome.
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