Olin Hatfield Chilson
Judge Chilson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Chilson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He used abstention to avoid unnecessary federal constitutional rulings while state courts resolved unsettled state law.
“this Court should stay further proceedings in this action to afford the plaintiff a reasonable opportunity to apply to the state courts of Colorado for an authoritative declaration of the applicable state law.”
He distinguished legitimate municipal leasing from monopoly where other operators remained free to seek airport leases.
“the granting of the lease to Pan-Ark did not create a monopoly in the services of repair and maintenance of aircraft and student flying instruction”
He required purposeful forum-directed activity rather than correspondence and payments alone to support personal jurisdiction.
“phone conversations, correspondence and the receipt of checks are not ‘purposeful acts’ such as to confer a forum state with extraterritorial jurisdiction.”
Procedural preferences
He treated invalidation of a criminal commitment as a judicial function, not a task parole officials could perform unilaterally.
“Only a court of competent jurisdiction has such authority.”
He separated unavailable retrospective enforcement from still-live prospective injunction and penalty claims.
“dismissed without prejudice, however, to the plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief enjoining future violations of the pricing regulations by defendants and plaintiff’s claim for the assessment of civil penalties.”
He focused the employee-versus-contractor inquiry on control over the manner and means of performing the work.
“The question of the control of Murphy’s work by the Postal Service is discussed later in this opinion.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that further proceedings in this action are hereby stayed until the further order of the Court herein.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the defendants’ motions for summary judgment of dismissal are hereby granted and that final judgment of dismissal of this action and the complaints therein with prejudice shall forthwith enter as to all defendants”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the defendant’s motion to dismiss is hereby granted and final judgment of dismissal of this action and the complaint therein should be forthwith entered.”
“the defendants’ counterclaims against plaintiffs should be dismissed with prejudice;”
“The plaintiffs are entitled to judgment against the defendants in the amount of $65,006.83, together with plaintiffs’ taxable costs.”
“the plaintiff is entitled to judgment requiring the defendants to reinstate plaintiff to the position of Sector Manager at the FAA facility in Longmont, Colorado.”
“IT IS ORDERED that the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction be and the sáme is hereby denied, and the temporary restraining order entered by the Court on the 16th day of June, 1978, is hereby dissolved as of 5:00 P.M. on this date.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion to vacate the sentences imposed in *75Criminal Actions 70-CR-31 and 70-CR-195 are hereby denied.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 is hereby denied.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that judgment be forthwith entered in favor of the plaintiff, Paul Lucero and against the defendant, Beth Israel Hospital and Geriatric Center in the amount of $1050.00, together with his taxable costs to be taxed by the Clerk of the Court upon the filing of a bill of costs within ten days from this date.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that judgment be forthwith entered in favor of the plaintiff Margaret Runkle, and against the defendant, Beth Israel Hospital and Geriatric Center in the amount of $1050.00, together with her taxable costs to be taxed by the Clerk of the Court upon the filing of a bill of costs within ten days from this date.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all further and additional relief prayed for by the plaintiffs be and the same are hereby denied.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this matter be and the same is hereby remanded to the Bankruptcy Court for further proceedings in accordance with this Opinion and Order.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the motion of the United States for summary judgment of dismissal of this action as to it is hereby granted.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that final judgment of dismissal of this action against the defendant, Edmond L. Murphy, be forthwith entered without prejudice to the plaintiffs pursuing their claims against the defendant, Edmond L. Murphy, in a court of competent jurisdiction.”
“It is therefore ordered that the complaint of the original plaintiffs and the complaint of the intervenors be dismissed and that judgment of dismissal shall forthwith be entered.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Chilson's reported decisions include civil rights, habeas, bankruptcy, insurance, employment discrimination, federal administration, and commercial disputes. No retained electronic records are available to quantify his caseload.
A historical record
Judge Chilson 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.