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Charles Francis McLaughlin

District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia (now U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) district Deceased · served 1950–1964 Appointed by Harry S. Truman (Democratic) 20 signed orders read

Judge McLaughlin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge McLaughlin decides

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

What persuades

At summary judgment, he centered the inquiry on whether a genuine factual dispute remained.

“When, as here, the court is asked to grant summary judgment there is only one consideration present. And that is whether or not there is a genuine issue of fact present.”

He treated the estimation of oil drainage as an agency task subject to later judicial review.

“This is a determination which must originate in the Department of the Interior, subject to judicial review.”

Cautions

He would not overturn a supported administrative choice merely because a court might have reached a different result independently.

“Determinations by administrative agencies are not to be set aside by Courts if there is evidence to support them.”

He excluded expert-witness fees from taxable costs in the post-judgment distribution proceeding.

“Such fees are not recoverable as taxable costs.”

Signed rulings

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

Wegenast v. Pheylen
· 1951-01-12
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“Judgment for the defendant.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied
Haberle v. Reconstruction Finance Corp.
· 1951-01-12
Motions to dismiss (government defendants) Granted

“For the foregoing reasons the motions to dismiss aré sustained.”

Local 1031, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers v. Herzog
· 1951-01-18
Motions to dismiss (National Labor Relations Board defendants) Granted

“Motion to dismiss granted.”

Washington Loan & Trust Co. v. Lyon
· 1951-03-14
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“The motion to .dismiss is, therefore, overruled.”

Motion for injunction (plaintiff trustee) Denied

“the motion to dismiss the application for an injunction against, the Maryland action is granted and plaintiff’s motion is overruled.”

Mayhew v. Krug
· 1951-03-16
Motion for summary judgment or dismissal (government) Moot / procedural

“this motion is not ripe for judicial determination, but that it should be held in abeyance, with its rights preserved on the docket”

Hook & Ackerman, Inc. v. Hirsh
· 1951-03-22
Motions to dismiss (defendants and involuntary plaintiffs) Denied

“the motion to dismiss based upon arguments going to the venue and jurisdiction is overruled.”

Motions to dismiss (defendants and involuntary plaintiffs) Denied

“said motion to dismiss based upon failure to state a claim is therefore overruled.”

Washington, Marlboro & Annapolis Motor Lines, Inc. v. Public Utilities Commission
· 1952-07-17
Administrative appeal (motor carrier appellant) Denied

“order No. 3715 of the Public Utilities Commission for the District of Columbia is affirmed.”

Drinkwater v. Drinkwater
· 1953-03-03
Motions to dismiss (defendant husband) Granted

“The complaint will be dismissed upon submission of an appropriate order.”

Kayan v. Watson
· 1953-12-16
Patent application (patent applicant) Granted

“The Court finds and holds that the applicant is entitled to receive a patent for his invention as specified in the claims involved herein.”

Young Men's Christian Ass'n v. District of Columbia
· 1953-12-21
Tax refund claim (plaintiff association) Granted

“Plaintiff, therefore, shall have and receive judgment against Defendant for an amount equal to nine-elevenths of the sum of $4110.45”

Burke v. Thomas J. Fisher & Co.
· 1953-12-22
Contract deposit claim (seller defendants) Granted

“holds that the seller is entitled to one-half the deposit in accordance with the terms of the contract.”

United States v. Bergson
· 1954-01-29
Motion for judgment of acquittal (criminal defendant) Granted

“the Court sustains defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal of the indictment herein as to both Counts thereof”

A historical record

Judge McLaughlin 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.