Robert Holmes Bell
Judge Bell no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Bell decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Bell treated exhibits incorporated into a complaint as controlling when they contradicted the complaint's characterization of the documents.
“It is a well-settled rule that when a written instrument contradicts allegations in the complaint to which it is attached, the exhibit trumps the allegations.”
He refused to resolve factual disputes through a motion to amend when the evidence belonged in later summary-judgment practice.
“such evidence is more properly presented in a motion for summary judgment, and not in opposition to a motion for leave to amend a complaint.”
Bell deferred limitations and concealment questions until discovery when the pleadings plausibly left those issues fact-dependent.
“are issues that should be determined on a motion for summary judgment following discovery, not a motion to dismiss based on the pleadings.”
Procedural preferences
Bell emphasized that summary judgment does not permit the court to weigh proof or make credibility findings.
“In reviewing a motion for summary judgment this Court cannot weigh the evidence, make credibility determinations, or resolve material factual disputes.”
He tailored preliminary relief to protect customer relationships without broadly preventing a former employee from working in his field.
“The public interest would be served by a narrowly tailored preliminary injunction that would permit Schmitt’s continued employment at Brown Dairy, but would still protect DeLaval’s legitimate interest in customer contacts.”
Bell managed potentially prejudicial expert testimony by controlling its order and limiting it to recruitment and control issues.
“any prejudice to Defendant would be lessened considerably if the expert’s testimony is given following victims’ testimony rather than preceding the victims’ testimony and is confined to the issues of recruitment and control.”
Cautions
Bell treated failure to oppose dismissal arguments as waiver and would not reconstruct abandoned claims for a party.
“A plaintiff must oppose a defendant’s motion to dismiss or otherwise respond or he waives opposition to the motion.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons that follow, Defendants’ motion will be granted in part and denied in part.”
“Federated is accordingly entitled to summary judgment on CMI’s claims for damages based on Federated’s failure to pay under the Policy.”
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(2) will therefore be denied.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss or in the alternative for Summary Judgment will be denied.”
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 46) is GRANTED.”
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 47) is DENIED.”
“For the foregoing reasons the Court grants Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c).”
“Because disposition’ of the motions did not rely on Defendant CMI’s new authority, the Court will deny its motion as moot.”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be granted and judgment will be entered in favor of Defendant.”
“For the reasons set forth above, Defendants’ motion to dismiss is granted as to Count III of Plaintiffs’ complaint, and denied as to all other Counts.”
“Accordingly, Monahan’s motion for summary judgment on Count I will be granted, and the University’s motion for summary judgment on Count I will be denied.”
“the Court concludes that Travelers is entitled to partial, summary judgment on the issue of trigger and allocation.”
“For the reasons that follow, the motion will be granted in part and taken under advisement in part.”
“the motions to dismiss are granted.”
“Plaintiffs request for injunctive relief enjoining the foreclosure sale is denied as moot.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 806 days (N = 5).
The twenty enumerated cases in the returned 1987 filing cohort were dominated by prisoner civil-rights matters, with additional habeas, contracts, employee benefits, Social Security, land-condemnation, environmental, and product-liability cases. The five randomized sample dockets were all terminated and retained no motion-entry text.
A historical record
Judge Bell 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.