Matthew J. Skahill
How Judge Skahill decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On a Daubert motion he focuses on reliability and fit and resists conflating admissibility with the merits: a warnings expert need not supply evidence of a causal link to be admissible where the association between the product and the plaintiff's injury is not 'attenuated'; proximate cause is a merits/proximate-cause question not properly before the court on a Daubert motion.
“for the purposes of this Motion plaintiff need not provide evidence of a causal link. The Court stresses it is not making a judgment on the merits ... This question implicates proximate cause which is not properly before the Court on this Motion.”
Liberal Rule 15 amendment with prejudice as the touchstone: he will grant leave to amend where the opposing party cannot show prejudice that is not curable by adjusting discovery/scheduling, even late in the case and even when the amendment sets up a renewed class-certification motion.
“The Court does not find that Defendants have met their burden with respect to proving they will be prejudiced by the Court granting Plaintiff's Motion.”
A spoliation request needs evidence that the disputed material actually existed and was lost through inadequate preservation; assumptions about a business's recording capacity or retention policy do not justify an adverse inference.
“general presumptions of a party’s recording capacity and retention policy are insufficient to establish spoliation of video without additional evidence”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“it is respectfully recommended that defendants' Motion to Exclude the Testimony and Report of Gerald Rennell be DENIED.”
In a prison-conditions case, Skahill recommended dismissal without prejudice after the self-represented plaintiff repeatedly failed to update his address, serve the defendants, or communicate with the court. Applying the six Poulis factors, he declined to recommend dismissal with prejudice because the case was still at an early stage and the plaintiff had moved in and out of custody.
“Plaintiff's motion to appoint pro bono counsel [ECF No. 40] is DENIED without prejudice.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion is GRANTED; and it is further ORDERED that Plaintiff shall serve a copy of the second amended complaint.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's motions for reimbursement for costs are GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART ... Plaintiff's requests for legal fees are DENIED.”
“Plaintiff seeks an order: (1) granting preliminary approval of the proposed settlement agreement ... [granted]”
“ORDER Granting 18 Motion for appointment of umpire for appraisal; ORDERED that John Herrick is hereby appointed as umpire; The Clerk is directed to close the case without prejudice to either party reopening the case within 30 days if John Herrick is unable or unwilling to serve as umpire in this case.”
“Hearing on application by defendant for release on bail Julena Williams sworn for defendant Hearing on application by Government for detention Oral Opinion read into the record Ordered defendant’s application denied Ordered Government’s application granted”
“Hearing on government's application for detention. Hearing on defendant's application for bail. Ordered third-party custodian sworn. Mark Selover, sworn Ordered government's application GRANTED.”
“Hearing on government's application for bail to be set. Ordered application granted. Ordered bail to be set at $50,000.00 unsecured with conditions.”
“Hearing on defendant's application for release. Ordered third-party custodian sworn. Lawrence Naylor, sworn. Both parties consent to conditions of release. Ordered Defendant's application GRANTED. Ordered bail to be set at $100,000.00 unsecured appearance bond with conditions.”
“Hearing on government's application for detention to continue. Hearing on defendant's application for release. Ordered third-party custodian sworn. Angel Tomas Valcarcel Rodriguez, sworn. Ordered Defendant's application GRANTED. Ordered bail to be set at $100,000.00 unsecured appearance bond with conditions.”
Put Judge Skahill's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Skahill actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Skahill's own signed orders and cites them.