Theodore Roosevelt Dalton

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

Judge Dalton 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
1959–1989
Appointed by
Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
Commissioned
1959-08-13
Education
College of William & Mary, A.B. (1924); William & Mary Law School, B.L. (1926)
Signed orders read
25

How Judge Dalton decides

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

What persuades

In benefit review, Dalton treated the Social Security Act’s coverage provisions as remedial and read them liberally in favor of coverage.

“Additionally, the Congressional Policy underlying the Social Security Act requires the courts to interpret the Act liberally in favor of coverage.”

Procedural preferences

Dalton required a claimant to complete the available administrative process before bringing an employment-discrimination claim in federal court.

“This court requires Arnold to exhaust her available administrative remedies before filing an action in this court.”

At summary judgment, Dalton required the nonmoving party to produce material facts rather than rely on allegations or anticipated discovery.

“Since the defendant has moved for summary judgment and submitted exhibits in support of this motion, plaintiff has the burden of producing material facts sufficient to warrant carrying forward with the case.”

Cautions

For prisoner civil-rights claims, Dalton distinguished negligence from the higher threshold required for a constitutional violation.

“The law is clear on the issues raised by petitioner and mere negligence, without more, by prison guards and physicians does not support a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.”

Signed rulings

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

Creasey v. Muncy
· 1985-11-25
Petition for writ of habeas corpus (petitioner) Denied

“For the reasons stated herein, the petition for a writ of habeas corpus shall be dismissed in an Order entered this day.”

Raines v. Harris
· 1980-06-12
Social security appeal (plaintiff claimant) Granted

“the court will issue an appropriate order reversing the Secretary’s denial of retirement insurance benefits and judgment will be entered for the Plaintiff.”

Phillips v. Gathright
· 1979-04-13
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Granted

“Therefore, this complaint is ORDERED dismissed, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Rule 12(b)(6), F.R.C.P.”

Wellons v. Townley
· 1981-06-29
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Granted

“Accordingly, the defendants’ motion to dismiss must be granted.”

Dillon ex rel. Dillon v. Director, Department of Corrections
· 1982-12-09
Motions to dismiss (Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections) Granted

“For the reasons stated above, the Director’s motion to dismiss shall be granted in an order to be entered this day.”

Jaco v. Shields
· 1981-01-27
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Granted

“Defendants’ motions to dismiss shall be granted.”

Contractors Supply Corp. v. United States
· 1974-10-31
Motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction (United States) Granted

“Therefore, it is ORDERED that this suit be dis*908missed because this court is without jurisdiction until the administrative procedures have been duly and properly exhausted.”

McNeil v. Blankenship
· 1973-10-26
Summary judgment (respondent) Granted

“For the above reasons, respondent’s motion for summary judgment is granted, and petitioner’s complaint is ordered dismissed.”

Roundtree v. Riddle
· 1976-07-28
Motions to dismiss (respondent) Granted

“Thus respondent’s motion to dismiss is granted and judgment is herein entered for respondent.”

Cassidy v. Edwards
· 1975-04-11
Civil rights complaint (plaintiff prisoner) Denied

“The court finds that this action should be dismissed for the above reasons and orders the ease dismissed and stricken from the docket.”

Alger v. Page County Sheriff's Department
· 1976-01-08
Summary judgment (respondent) Granted

“Accordingly, summary judgment is to be entered for respondent and this case is to be stricken from the docket.”

Turner v. Plageman
· 1976-07-26
Summary judgment (respondent) Granted

“Accordingly, this court is of the opinion that the respondent is entitled to summary judgment and herein awards said judgment.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The ten sampled matters offer limited case-level context only. Four involved disability-insurance or related claims, two involved recovery of veterans’ benefit overpayments, one involved supplemental-security-income disability, and three lacked a retained nature-of-suit label.

A historical record

Judge Dalton 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.