Thomas Clark Trimble III
Judge Trimble no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Trimble decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He treated federal constitutional protection for school desegregation as sufficient to support a claim against efforts to restore segregated attendance.
“I must, therefore, hold that the complaint does state a cause of action and that the motion to dismiss should be overruled.”
He used summary judgment to test whether a plaintiff could ever develop a viable causation theory when the material evidence was undisputed.
“This case serves as an excellent example of developing a cause of action by a motion for summary judgment in accordance with the provisions of Rule 56 (b) and (c) of the Rules of Civil Procedure.”
He treated an incomplete insurance endorsement that conflicted with state law as ineffective.
“the restrictive endorsement rider is without any effect.”
Procedural preferences
He would revisit and reverse his own interlocutory ruling when further research showed that the statutory text required a different result.
“I am, therefore, setting aside the order overruling the motion to remand and will enter an order remanding this case to the Circuit Court of Arkansas County, Arkansas.”
He placed the burden of establishing federal jurisdiction on the party invoking it.
“The person invoking the jurisdiction of a Court has the burden of establishing the Court’s jurisdiction.”
He treated substantial in-state settlement activity by corporate officers as more than a temporary visit and sufficient for personal jurisdiction.
“These acts were of such a nature and had such results that they cannot be regarded as merely a temporary call to compromise a controversy.”
Cautions
He denied forfeiture relief where a finance company ignored statutory inquiry requirements and the known risk of liquor-law violations.
“the existence of said remedial act does not justify dealers and finance companies in closing their eyes to the ‘bootleg hazard“ as the intervenor has done in this case.”
He required concrete proof of a legal marriage before allowing a claimant to take insurance proceeds as a surviving spouse.
“Having failed to produce the required quality of evidence she must be deemed to have failed to make good her claim.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiff, White River Burial Association, is entitled to judgment for Income Tax and Capital Stock Tax, penalties and interest erroneously collected in the sum of $13,357.97, plus interest thereon at 6% per annum from February 3, 1S47.”
“That the defendant is entitled to judgment in this cause.”
“the plaintiff is entitled to a temporary injunction re*798straining and enjoining the defendants, and each of them, from interfering with the rights of the plaintiff.”
“The complaint as to this issue should and will be dismissed without prejudice to the plaintiff to further proceedings against the defendants when her cause of action shall have matured.”
“The plaintiff is not entitled to judgment for treble damages nor for injunctive relief.”
“Defendants are entitled to have a summary judgment, and summary judgment will be entered, adjudging the costs against the plaintiff.”
“Defendant has infringed plaintiff’s trade-mark rights.”
“Plaintiff is not entitled to an accounting.”
“Plaintiff is entitled to an injunction against the defendant’s infringement of its trade-mark and continued unfair competition.”
“Having failed to produce the required quality of evidence she must be deemed to have failed to make good her claim.”
“It follows with almost mathematical certainty that she was never married legally to Elisha Burns, the insured, and cannot recover in this action..”
“Therefore they are entitled to recover in this action”
“The motion of the defendant for summary judgment upon the plea of limitations is denied.”
“Therefore, the petition for declaratory judgment must be denied.”
“The intervention filed herein will be dismissed.”
“the Court sustains the Government’s motion to dismiss.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No case-level docket records are available for this pre-electronic tenure, so the profile makes no claim about caseload mix or case duration.
A historical record
Judge Trimble 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.