Ann Marie Donio
How Judge Donio decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On a motion to amend she keeps the inquiry narrow under Rule 15(a)/Rule 21 and rejects merits or jurisdiction objections aimed at the amendment -- current parties lack standing to assert futility on behalf of a proposed new defendant, and a personal-jurisdiction challenge belongs in a later dispositive motion, not in opposition to leave to amend.
“the Court concludes that Defendants lack standing to oppose the motion with respect to Jeffrey Geragi, and the Court rejects futility as a basis to deny the pending motion.”
On FLSA conditional certification she applies the 'fairly lenient' two-step standard, treating a uniform written policy (here a CBA's 10-minute pre-shift requirement) as enough of a 'modest factual showing' that putative members are similarly situated -- but she trims overbroad notice mechanics (first-class mail only, 45-day opt-in, no SSNs/postings absent a compelling reason).
“the express language of the policy relied upon by Plaintiffs inherently demonstrates the 'similarly situated' nature of the potential collective action members with respect to Defendant's pre-shift requirement.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion for leave to file a first amended complaint [Doc. No. 22] shall be, and hereby is, GRANTED”
“ORDERED that Defendants' motion to compel early mediation and to stay discovery [Doc. No. 27] shall be, and hereby is, DISMISSED AS WITHDRAWN.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motion to conditionally certify this action as a collective action [Doc. No. 10] shall be, and hereby is, GRANTED IN PART”
“ORDERED that this Court hereby ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation of the Honorable Ann Marie Donio ... ORDERED that this case shall be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“the Court respectfully recommends that Defendant's answer be stricken ... ORDERED that Defendant's answer to Plaintiff's complaint [D.I. 11] shall be, and is hereby, stricken.”
“ORDERED that Defendants' motion to dismiss [Docket Item 151] shall be, and is hereby, GRANTED IN PART and DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE IN PART; and ... ORDERED that this case shall not be dismissed at this time”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion [Doc. No. 47] to compel company-wide discovery shall be, and is hereby, GRANTED in part and DENIED in part”
“ORDERED that Defendant's motion [Doc. No. 51] for a protective order shall be, and is hereby, DENIED”
“ORDERED that Defendant's motion [Doc. No. 78] to bifurcate discovery shall be, and is hereby, DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE to Defendant's right to object to specific discovery requests as not related to class certification issues.”
“ORDERED that Green Technology's motion for judgment on pleadings [Doc. No. 51] shall be, and hereby is, DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE, with the right to refile under Green Technology's unique civil action in the event Plaintiff files a complaint against Green Technology and pays the requisite filing fee.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion for default judgment [Doc. No. 93] shall be, and is hereby, DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion for leave to amend the complaint [Doc. No. 96] shall be, and is hereby, DENIED”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion [D.I. 40] to reopen discovery shall be, and is hereby, DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“ORDERED that the motion [D.I. 29] for settlement approval shall be, and is hereby, DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion [D.I. 77] for leave to file a Third Amended Complaint shall be, and is hereby, GRANTED”
“ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motions [D.I. 186 in Civil No. 19-12002, D.I. 170 in Civil No. 20-1118] for sanctions shall be, and are hereby, GRANTED in part and DENIED without prejudice in part”
“ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motions [D.I. 187 in Civil No. 19-12002, D.I. 171 in Civil No. 20-1118] to disqualify counsel for Defendant Dixon shall be, and are hereby, DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”
Put Judge Donio's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Donio actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Donio's own signed orders and cites them.