David Sam
How Judge Sam decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Sam allowed an antitrust claim to proceed where the complaint identified the alleged conspiracy and affirmative acts of concealment.
“the plaintiffs have alleged specific, affirmative acts of concealment by the defendants”
He found a safety policy legitimate where the evidence showed repeated accommodations and a genuine need to protect elderly residents.
“the defendants presented a legitimate, non-pretextual reason for the guidelines: ensuring the safety of all Crosslands residents”
Procedural preferences
He enforced a negotiated forum-selection clause as a significant reason to transfer related claims together.
“the parties' agreed-upon forum for actions in which one of the parties seeks to enforce the terms of their agreements.”
He favored transfer when parallel litigation involving the same subject matter, parties, and witnesses was already proceeding elsewhere.
“the interest of justice is surely served if actions involving the same subject matter, parties and witnesses proceed in one court and/or jurisdiction.”
Cautions
He rejected environmental standing based on injuries that were economic rather than within the statute’s protected interests.
“These harms are not environmental, and as such are not within the zone of interest NEPA was designed to protect.”
He enforced a plea agreement once the parties had agreed to material terms and manifested assent.
“The parties made an agreement and manifested assent, thus completing a contract.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant’s Rule 12(b) motion to dismiss plaintiffs cause of action based on 42 U.S.C. § 2000a is GRANTED.”
“the defendant E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company’s motion to dismiss is denied.”
“the defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“plaintiffs motion to remand is GRANTED”
“Plaintiff's request for oral argument is DENIED.”
“the defendant Iams' motion to change venue to the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, is granted.”
“The bankruptcy court’s decision which disallowed CalFed’s Proof of Claim dated December 28, 1992, in the amount of $8,358,30 is reversed.”
“the court hereby GRANTS defendant’s motion.”
“the plaintiffs motion for attorney fees is granted in part and denied in part.”
“The defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction is denied; defendant’s motion to change venue is granted; defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs third and fourth claims for injunctive relief is granted.”
“defendant’s motion to change venue is granted”
“The court has also considered the motions to strike portions of the affidavits of Ronald W. Kobler and Martin C. Gross. Those motions are denied”
“defendant’s motions for summary judgment as to the hostile work environment claim and the non-selection claim are denied. The defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to the constructive discharge claim is granted.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Indictment is denied.”
“plaintiffs Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order is DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 1487.5 days (N = 20).
The 20 located assigned cases filed from 1985 through early 1987 were all terminated and are not a career-wide caseload measure.
Put Judge Sam's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Sam actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Sam's own signed orders and cites them.