Richmond Bowling Keech
Judge Keech no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Keech decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He distinguished liability to the injured plaintiff from a separate indemnity duty between alleged wrongdoers.
“a jury might find that Potomac Electric was negligent as to Coates, the original plaintiff, in failing to take some precaution which would have prevented the injury, to him, and at the same time find that, as between Potomac Electric and the Gas Company, Potomac Electric was not negligent in failing to take precautions in anticipation of the Gas Company’s negligent act.”
Clear statutory limits on agency authority supported immediate equitable relief.
“The Board’s Statement of Policy of October 23, 1953, is illegal, null, and void.”
Cautions
A putative class claim failed when two plaintiffs did not demonstrate adequate representation of hundreds of cooperative members.
“the plaintiffs have failed to show that they ‘will fairly insure the adequate representation of all’ members”
Res ipsa loquitur could not carry a claim when the proposed proof left the cause equally attributable to uncontrolled third-party conduct.
“it would have been required to speculate as to whether the accident resulted from some cause within the railroad’s control or from the act of some third person or the decedent herself.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“petitioner entitled to the injunctive relief prayed.”
“The respondent is not guilty of criminal contempt of the order issued by this Court on February 11, 1950.”
“It Is Further Ordered that this preliminary injunction be and remain in full force and effect until the further order of this Court.”
“Counsel will prepare an order granting the third-party defendant’s motion for summary judgment, without prejudice to the third-party plaintiff’s right to amend its cross-complaint.”
“For the foregoing reasons the motion for rehearing will be -denied.”
“Counsel for plaintiff will prepare an order denying defendant’s motion for relief from the decree.”
“For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s motion to request remand will be denied.”
“The third-party defendant’s motion to dismiss will therefore be denied.”
“For the foregoing reasons the motion to dismiss will be granted.”
“the defendant’s amended motion to vacate the sentence and set aside the judgment of conviction is denied.”
“The defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint will therefore be denied.”
“The plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction will therefore be granted.”
A historical record
Judge Keech 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.