Jackson L. Kiser

How Judge Kiser rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Kiser no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Position
district
Status
Deceased
Served
1981–2020
Appointed by
Ronald Reagan (Republican)
Commissioned
1981-12-03
Education
Concord College, B.A. (1951); Washington and Lee University School of Law, LL.B. (1952)
Signed orders read
25

How Judge Kiser decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

Kiser entered declaratory judgment when threatened litigation was real and immediate and an early ruling would avoid unnecessary proceedings.

“entry of declaratory judgment at this juncture would eliminate unnecessary judicial involvement.”

Procedural preferences

Kiser declined to compel arbitration after finding the parties’ arbitration clause had expired with the underlying agreement.

“I may not force the plaintiffs to arbitrate a dispute when they have not agreed to arbitration.”

Cautions

Kiser dismissed an environmental claim that did not plead a release or threatened release and resulting response costs.

“there is not one word in the Amended Complaint about expenses from release or threatened release of any substance into the environment.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Edwards v. United States
· 1991-10-25
Summary judgment (government) Granted

“it is hereby ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the defendant’s motion is GRANTED. This action is DISMISSED with prejudice.”

United States v. Unsecured Creditors' Committee (In re C-T Virginia, Inc.)
· 1991-10-30
Bankruptcy appeal (government) Granted

“For the reasons stated above, the decision of the Bankruptcy Court is reversed as to its holding that 26 I.R.C. § 4980 constitutes a penalty for purposes of priority under 11 U.S.C. § 507(a)(7)(E).”

Lee-Warren v. School Board of Cumberland County
· 1991-08-12
Summary judgment (defendants) Granted

“The defendants’ subsequent motion for summary judgment on Counts I and IV is GRANTED; and”

Sayers v. Sears, Roebuck and Co.
· 1990-02-22
Sua sponte remand (court) Granted

“Accordingly I find this court lacks jurisdiction to hear this case and it shall be remanded to the Circuit Court for the City of Roanoke.”

Holt v. United States
· 1987-06-19
Summary judgment (government) Granted

“Summary judgment will be granted to the Defendant.”

Nunley v. Jessee
· 1988-06-13
Bankruptcy appeal (appellant estate) Granted

“Therefore, the decision of the Bankruptcy Court will be reversed and the case remanded to the Bankruptcy Court to determine the appropriate fee.”

Jennings v. Grizzard
· 1991-09-25
Petition for writ of habeas corpus (petitioner) Denied

“For the reasons stated above, I conclude that petitioner’s petition for a writ of habe-as corpus must be denied.”

Poff v. Poff Construction, Inc. (In re Poff Construction, Inc.)
· 1991-08-19
Bankruptcy appeal (appellant creditor) Granted

“it is hereby ADJUDGED and ORDERED that the decision of the bankruptcy court is REVERSED and this action is REMANDED to the bankruptcy court.”

Stratton v. Bowen
· 1988-11-22
Summary judgment (Secretary) Granted

“the decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services is affirmed and summary judgment is hereby entered for the Defendant.”

Bryant v. Colonial Pipeline Company
· 1987-12-21
Motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction (defendants) Granted

“Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss for lack of jurisdiction is GRANTED.”

Motion for sanctions (defendants) Denied

“Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions is DENIED.”

F.P. Corp. v. Golden West Foods, Inc.
· 1992-07-28
Summary judgment (Golden West Foods) Granted

“I will grant Golden West's motion for summary judgment and deny FT's motion for summary judgment.”

Summary judgment (F.P. Corp.) Denied
C-T of Virginia, Inc. v. Paine Webber Inc. (In re C-T of Virginia, Inc.)
· 1990-11-27
Motion for partial summary judgment (plaintiff committee) Granted

“Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment with respect to Count III of its complaint is hereby GRANTED”

Motion for attorneys fees (plaintiff committee) Denied

“It has cited no authority for this request, and the statutes do not provide for such an award. This request shall be denied.”

Discovery motions (both parties) Moot / procedural

“All pending discovery motions in the above-captioned case are hereby DISMISSED AS MOOT.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The fixed historical sample is heavily concentrated in federal railroad-employment matters and also includes an asbestos product-liability matter; three matters lack a retained nature-of-suit label. It is not representative of Kiser’s full tenure.

A historical record

Judge Kiser 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.