John Decker Butzner Jr.
How Judge Butzner rules, drawn from 24 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Butzner no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Butzner decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Allowed an amendment when the requested remedy arose from the conduct already pleaded and therefore related back to the original complaint.
“There is no question whatsoever that the conduct, transaction, or occurrence was set forth or attempted to be set forth in the original pleadings”
Sustained personal jurisdiction over a foreign manufacturer based on its own repeated local business, technical work, and inducement activity.
“Organization has far more than minimal contacts in Virginia.”
Procedural preferences
Required the transferee court to reexamine whether the action could have been brought there when it was filed.
“Jurisdiction must be reexamined by the transferee court.”
Deferred suppression questions until a possible criminal case could narrow the issues and provide the ordinary remedy.
“This can be urged by appropriate motions and objections if and when the plaintiffs are brought to trial.”
Cautions
Declined to halt school construction without evidence that completed facilities would perpetuate segregation, leaving later review available.
“The effect of construction after it is completed can be reviewed and the plan modified, if necessary, to insure that construction is not used to perpetuate segregation.”
Did not award fees in an arm's-length contract dispute without a statute, agreement, or exceptional equitable relationship.
“Under these circumstances the allowance of attorneys’ fees is not proper either as costs or damages.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The motion to remand this case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is granted.”
After trial, the court held the trust property includable in the decedent's gross estate; no party motion outcome is counted.
“The several motions made by the defendants that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, that the plaintiff is without standing to institute this action, that the plaintiff’s attorneys lack authority to represent the plaintiff in this action, are overruled.”
“The motion for summary judgment filed by the County School Board of Prince George County and James O. Morehead, Division Superintendent of Schools, is denied.”
“The motion of the Commonwealth of Virginia that it is neither a necessary nor proper party is granted and the Commonwealth of Virginia is dismissed as a defendant.”
“The defendants, and each of them, their successors, and their agents, servants and employees, are enjoined and restrained from in any manner failing to comply with the assurance given by the County School Board”
After trial, the court rejected a service member's tort claim arising from an incident at a military club; no party motion outcome is counted.
“The petitioner’s motion is withoat merit and is denied.”
“Plaintiff, its officers, agents and those in privity with it, and each of them, should be enjoined and restrained from harassing with threats of infringement against, and from instituting any suit for infringement against, defendant”
“The plaintiffs are entitled to the relief which they seek, with three exceptions:”
“The defendants’ respective motions will be overruled.”
“The plaintiffs are entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees.”
On stipulated facts, the court gave the federal tax liens priority over an unperfected materialman's claim; no party motion outcome is counted.
“The Court concludes that Mrs. Warwick’s expenses are deductible. Judgment will be entered for the plaintiffs.”
After trial, the court rejected two insured cargo claims but allowed a third claim governed by an oral charter; no party motion outcome is counted.
“The Court concludes that the plaintiff is entitled to an injunction against the defendants”
After trial under French law, the court found that the ship's employees had rendered reasonable assistance and were not liable for the seaman's death; no party motion outcome is counted.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Butzner's reported Eastern District of Virginia decisions include civil-rights, education, tax, maritime, patent, trademark, labor, housing, post-conviction, military, and commercial matters. The reviewed publications do not support a quantified caseload estimate.
A historical record
Judge Butzner 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.