Henry Norman Graven
Judge Graven no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Graven decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security farm-income review, Graven treated repeated consultation, inspections, expense sharing, and management decisions as concrete evidence of material participation.
“The record abounds with examples of periodic advice and consultation, periodic inspection of livestock, assumption of a substantial part of the production expense, and the making of management decisions by the plaintiff.”
He treated food-safety compliance as categorical when the record showed products could not be prepared under sanitary conditions.
“A party who cannot prepare proper food products under sanitary conditions must cease putting such products into interstate commerce.”
Procedural preferences
When an action sought money damages rather than equitable reinstatement, Graven preserved a jury trial on liability and damages.
“It is the view of this court that a jury trial of all issues exists as a matter of right.”
He remanded a third-party claim when its indemnity theory depended entirely on the outcome of the underlying state action.
“Since the third-party claim asserted in the present case is entirely dependent upon the outcome of the main action, it cannot be regarded as a ‘separate and independent claim or cause of action.’”
Cautions
Graven resisted adding exceptions to a statutory remedial scheme when the legislature had not supplied them.
“where no exceptions appear in the Act none are to be engrafted by the courts.”
Where state law was unsettled, he made an explicit predictive judgment rather than treating uncertainty as a reason to avoid decision.
“the adoption of that rule by the Iowa Supreme Court is more probable than its rejection.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The motion of the defendant to dismiss, or in the alternative for summary judgment, is overruled and denied.”
“the motions of the plaintiff and the third-party defendant to dismiss the third-party complaint be sustained.”
“the motion of the defendant to strike those portions of the plaintiff’s complaint which ■ charge: the defendant with breach of‘ implied warranty be overruled and denied.”
“the plaintiff’s proof is lacking as to the foundation facts upon which res ipsa loquitur can be predicated, and that a verdict should be directed for .the defendant.”
“the defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction of the person of the defendant is not well taken.”
“the motions of the Libelant for summary judgment in the present actions be and the same are hereby sustained and judgment shall be entered accordingly.”
“the motion of the defendants to dismiss Count III of the complaint be and the same is hereby overruled and denied.”
“the motion of the defendants for summary judgment be and the same is hereby sustained.”
“the motion of the plaintiff for summary judgment against the defendants be and the same is hereby sustained.”
“the service of process made upon the defendant Volkswagen of America, Inc., in the State of New Jersey and the service of process made upon the defendant Import Motors of Chicago, Inc., in the State of Illinois be and they are hereby quashed.”
“the motion of the defendants to dismiss Count II should be sustained, and it is so. ordered.”
“there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law under Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No case-level docket record assigned under Graven’s name was returned for his tenure. The profile therefore makes no claim about his complete caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Graven 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.