Samuel Grayson Wilson

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

Judge Wilson 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
Retired 2014
Served
1990–2014
Appointed by
George H. W. Bush (Republican)
Commissioned
1990-05-14
Education
University of Richmond, B.A. (1971); Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D. (1974)
Signed orders read
25

How Judge Wilson decides

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

What persuades

In benefits review, Wilson treated the inability to sustain regular work—not isolated evidence of occasional capacity—as decisive under the plan language.

“the fact that he cannot regularly sustain gainful employment means that he is disabled under the Plan and is entitled to receive a waiver of his life insurance premiums.”

Procedural preferences

Wilson enforced investigative subpoenas only after narrowing them to relevant, specific requests that were not unduly burdensome.

“The court has concluded that, as limited, the subpoenas are sufficiently limited in scope, relevant in purpose, and specific in directive so that compliance will not be unreasonably burdensome.”

Cautions

Wilson rejected a settlement term designed to deter later suits by people outside the proposed class because it could not bind them consistently with due process.

“But from a due process perspective, the provision would not be worth the paper it would be written on”

Signed rulings

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

Blackwell v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc.
· 2014-03-03
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“defendant Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss (Docket No. 29) is DENIED.”

Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. v. Rodriguez
· 2008-03-18
Summary judgment (plaintiff) Granted

“For the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is granted.”

Townes Moses v. Sears, Roebuck and Co.
· 2008-03-03
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“For the foregoing reasons, the court denies defendant’s motion to dismiss.”

McDow v. Dudley
· 2010-04-28
Bankruptcy appeal (United States Trustee) Moot / procedural

“the United States Trustee’s appeal from the Bankruptcy Court is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.”

In re Subpoenas
· 2010-03-10
Motion to compel subpoena compliance (government) Granted

“the United States’ motion to compel compliance with subpoenas 2007R01 115-0029 and 2007R01 115-0030 is GRANTED subject to the limiting conditions set forth below.”

Hooker v. Educational Credit Management Corp.
· 2007-05-14
Bankruptcy appeal (appellant debtor) Granted

“it is hereby ORDERED and ADJUDGED that this case is REMANDED to the bankruptcy court for further proceedings.”

United States v. Hudgins
· 2006-01-19
Motion to reopen appeal period (defendant) Denied

“For the foregoing reasons, Hudgins’ motion to reopen the time for filing an appeal is DENIED.”

Domonoske v. Bank of America, N.A.
· 2010-04-15
Motion for class certification and preliminary approval (plaintiffs) Denied

“plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class and for preliminary approval of the class settlement is DENIED.”

United States v. Baxter
· 2010-01-11
Objection to presentence report (defendant) Denied

“Accordingly, Baxter is an Armed Career Criminal who is subject to enhanced penalties under the ACCA, and his objection to the presentence report is overruled.”

Turner v. Digital Broadcast Corp.
· 2012-05-24
Sua sponte dismissal (court) Granted

“For the reasons stated, the court dismisses the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.”

Heath v. O'Brien
· 2009-08-24
Motions to dismiss (respondent) Granted

“respondent’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED; the above referenced motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 is hereby DISMISSED;”

Session v. Anderson
· 2010-06-21
Summary judgment (school board) Granted

“For the reasons stated, the Board’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The fixed historical sample includes prisoner civil-rights, product-liability, and labor-management matters; seven matters lack a retained nature-of-suit label. It is not representative of Wilson’s full tenure.

A historical record

Judge Wilson 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.