Ajmel A. Quereshi
How Judge Quereshi decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On Rule 55(c) motions to set aside a default he applies the Fourth Circuit's Colleton factors and leans toward resolution on the merits, but pairs the relief with an explicit warning that continued dilatory conduct will draw sanctions.
“the Court will grant Defendants' Motion to Vacate. ... However, the Court warns Defendants that further delays may result”
In Title VII / Section 1981 employment cases at the pleading stage he distinguishes a viable hostile-work-environment / discrimination claim (which survives) from a retaliation claim that fails for want of the required elements, dismissing claim-by-claim rather than wholesale, and granting leave to replead.
“Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 15, is granted, in part, and denied, in part. It is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's retaliation claim (Count II). It is DENIED as to Plaintiff's hostile work environment and race discrimination claims (Counts I, III).”
Procedural preferences
On motions for default judgment he writes a full R&R: he confirms liability on the well-pleaded allegations and then scrutinizes the damages/fees figure independently, recommending a precise dollar award (and declining amounts that lack supporting documentation) rather than rubber-stamping the plaintiff's number.
“it is recommended that Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment be granted in the amount of $406,736.22.”
Cautions
Permits qualified expert testimony that may help the jury, but bars experts from deciding credibility or using specialized legal terms to state legal conclusions.
“Mr. Vince and Mr. Abramson may not present legal conclusions and must avoid any specialized legal terminology in their testimony.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons outlined above, Defendants' Motion to Vacate the Orders of Default, ECF No. 15, is GRANTED. The Court will set aside the entries of default, ECF Nos. 10, 13, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(c).”
“Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 15, is granted, in part, and denied, in part. It is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's retaliation claim (Count II). It is DENIED as to Plaintiff's hostile work environment and race discrimination claims (Counts I, III).”
“For the aforementioned reasons, it is recommended that Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment be granted in the amount of $406,736.22.”
“I recommend that the Motion be granted, in part, and denied, in part, and that Plaintiffs be granted a permanent injunction, awarded statutory damages”
“For the following reasons, the Court shall recommend that the Motion be granted.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs' Amended Motion for Default Judgment, ECF No. 26, is granted. The Court recommends that damages be awarded in the amount of $146,838.47”
“Defendants' Motion to Exclude or Limit Experts is GRANTED, in part, and DENIED, in part. Mr. Vince, Mr. Abramson, and Dr. Bryan are precluded from testifying to the extent discussed above.”
“For the aforementioned reasons, it is recommended that Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment be granted in the amount of $95,919.02.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed consent and direct-assignment caseload includes pension-fund collection actions, wage claims, employment and civil-rights cases, contract and franchise disputes, and insurance-coverage litigation. Many of these cases were recently filed and remained pending, limiting conclusions about case duration and final outcomes.
Put Judge Quereshi's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Quereshi actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Quereshi's own signed orders and cites them.