Willis William Ritter
Judge Ritter no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Ritter decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He treated exhaustion of administrative remedies as an important limit on equitable intervention.
“the plaintiffs and defendants have not exhausted their administrative remedies.”
He deferred to administrative factfinding when the record supplied substantial evidentiary support.
“The Commission’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence.”
He regarded fact-bound disability and waiver questions as matters for a jury rather than dispositive motion practice.
“Both of the issues in this case seem to the court to be jury questions.”
Procedural preferences
He weighed parallel litigation, forum concentration, and practical manageability when deciding class treatment.
“The litigation in New York is far advanced, far and away the bulk of the cases are there, and the information necessarily to be obtained from the brokerage offices is more readily and more conveniently available in New York City.”
He required the ordinary meaning of finality before allowing a judgment to be registered during an appeal.
“The phrase final by appeal should be given its ordinary, usual, and natural interpretation.”
He viewed bankruptcy injunctions as discretionary tools for protecting the discharge and orderly administration.
“In the final analysis the decision of cases of this kind rests within the sound discretion of the court.”
Cautions
He would not enter summary judgment while a genuine factual dispute remained.
“The Court concurred with that reading of Rule 56.”
He treated willful misuse of another party's business property as grounds for substantial punitive relief.
“Such bad faith conduct rises to a level that requires the Court to take severe action.”
He distinguished normal wear from actionable waste under a government lease.
“The lessee was not under a duty to repair damages caused by reasonable wear and tear.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The enforcement of each will be restrained.”
“Judgment for the defendant. Case is dismissed, and the defendant is to receive its costs.”
“That the plaintiffs .are not entitled to an injunction or restraining order against the defendant. .”
“the plaintiff’s Complaint be and the same hereby is dismissed;”
“the defendant’s Affirmative Defense and Gross Complaint-be and the same hereby are dismissed.”
“the court heard arguments of counsel and denied the motion of the assignee of the plaintiff to dismiss defendants’ petition, to vacate the order.”
“it was ordered that the judgment be stricken from the records of this court and the execution issued thereon quashed, and all further proceedings upon it stayed.”
“The plaintiff upon the pleadings, facts and evidence is not entitled to a refund and the defendant is entitled to judgment, costs to be taxed to the plaintiff.”
“Defendant’s Motions were denied upon the ground that these two issues are jury questions.”
“That the plaintiff is entitled to recover of and from the defendant the sum of $6,-171.45 together with interest according to law.”
“Judgment, therefore, is for the defendant.”
“Judgment is in favor of the bankrupt. The permanent injunction is granted.”
“Judgment will be entered for the defendants, who are directed to prepare findings and conclusions and judgment pursuant to the foregoing opinion.”
“the plaintiff is entitled to an order of this Court voiding the merger of International Service Industries, Inc., with and into Body Contour, Inc.;”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The located decisions span tax, insurance, bankruptcy, constitutional claims, securities, employment, antitrust, administrative review, trademarks, and environmental relief. They do not establish the distribution of Ritter's full caseload.
A historical record
Judge Ritter 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.