David Jackson Davis
Judge Davis no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Davis decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Davis framed a restitution claim by asking whether the defendant retained money that, in equity and good conscience, belonged to the claimant.
“The question to be decided is whether or not the defendant has any money in its possession which, under the facts in this case, in equity and good conscience, belongs to the plaintiff.”
He treated a trustee’s divided responsibilities to two trusts as incompatible with the fiduciary duty of undivided loyalty.
“These two duties are unquestionably conflicting and irreconcilable.”
Procedural preferences
Davis applied an appellate mandate by denying a proposed amendment that sought to continue the litigation after review.
“Now, therefore, in accordance with such mandate and said opinion of the Supreme Court, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed, as follows: (1) That the allowance of the proposed amendment and supplemental bill of complaint in lieu of and in addition to and supplementing the original bill of complaint be and the same is hereby denied.”
He used injunctive relief to prevent a party from relitigating questions already resolved by a final decree.
“The Company should be enjoined from relitigating any questions of law or fact that have been determined by the final decree in this case.”
Cautions
Davis declined to restrain collection when the challenged federal tax was lawful and properly applied.
“No case has been cited and the court has found none in which an injunction was issued against the collection of a legal federal tax properly applied.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The money paid the defendant before the receiver was appointed cannot be recovered. The $550 paid the defendant after the appointment of the receiver can be recovered with interest.”
“That the allowance of the proposed amendment and supplemental bill of complaint in lieu of and in addition to and supplementing the original bill of complaint be and the same is hereby denied.”
“That the bill of complaint in. said cause and all amendments and supplements thereto be and same are hereby dismissed, and all prayers for relief are hereby denied.”
“Being of the opinion that the same question could be reached by demurrer, I overruled the motion.”
“A decree will be drawn and rendered granting the temporary injunction,”
“A decree will, therefore, be prepared denying the prayer for the temporary injunction and dismissing the bill.”
“A decree will be drawn surcharging the bank for the losses, with interest, in the Tyson and Lewis participations, and relieving the bank of damages in the other participation purchases.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No complete case-level docket survives from this tenure, so no caseload mix or timing claim is made.
A historical record
Judge Davis 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.