Stanley A. Bastian
How Judge Bastian decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In municipal-liability (Monell) claims, isolated lapses in equipment or training -- even if real -- do not establish the 'longstanding practice or custom' needed for liability absent evidence of duration, frequency, and consistency.
“it is evident the failure to provide PPE was an "isolated" incident and not founded upon practices of "sufficient duration, frequency and consistency that the conduct has become a traditional method of carrying out policy."”
Procedural preferences
Once all federal claims are dismissed or resolved, routinely declines supplemental jurisdiction over remaining state-law claims and remands rather than retaining them.
“Having disposed of the federal claims in this action, the Court declines to retain supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3). Therefore, the case is remanded to state court for further proceedings.”
Cautions
A pro se plaintiff's failure to respond to a dispositive motion, or to a court's order to show cause, does not automatically doom the case -- the court will still reach the merits on the existing record rather than granting by default.
“Although the Court could arguably grant the motion for summary judgment under LR 7.1(d), the Court will address the motion on the merits, with the facts available in the record.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The United States of America's Motion to Dismiss Indictment, ECF No. 33, is GRANTED. ... The above-captioned case is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“For the reasons stated above, as well as the reasons stated on the record at the hearing, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 9, is denied.”
“Defendants' motion for summary judgment is granted in full. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED: 1. Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 51, is GRANTED.”
“1. The City Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 17, is GRANTED, in part. 2. The State Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 37, is GRANTED, in part.”
“Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 17, is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims. Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims against Defendants are DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment Pursuant to Rule 56, ECF No. 17, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 21, is GRANTED.”
“Defendants Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland and Zurich American Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 134, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 15, is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Class Certification, ECF No. 43, is GRANTED.”
“Pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings, Defendant's Motion for Resentencing, ECF No. 93, and Amended 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Motion to Vacate Sentence, ECF No. 98, are DENIED.”
“Defendant's First Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 56, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Strike Surplusage, ECF No. 75, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Second Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 76, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Suppress Physical Evidence and Observations, ECF No. 120, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Reconsider Oral Ruling re: Emergency Exception to the Warrant Requirement, ECF No. 134, is DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Prohibit Rule 404(b) Evidence, ECF No. 135, is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Remand, ECF No. 11, is GRANTED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Compel Arbitration, ECF No. 8, is DENIED as moot.”
Put Judge Bastian's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Bastian actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Bastian's own signed orders and cites them.