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Decision levers
AI-measured from their own opinions — each lever cites its cases
PurposivismTextualism
Opinions consistently apply narrow textual readings, as in the LMRDA Title I dismissal limiting coverage to union democracy rights and the Selective Service Act ruling that the fatherhood deferment regulation exceeded statutory authority. Green v. Local 705, Hotel & Rest… ↗ Gregory v. Hershey ↗
Deference to government powerSkepticism of government power
The rulings show measured skepticism toward administrative overreach, striking down an unauthorized Selective Service regulation while recognizing valid tax liens that could not be enforced against the United States. Gregory v. Hershey ↗ United States v. State of Michig… ↗
This case concerned whether parcels of land in Flint, Michigan, purchased by the United States between April and October 1967 for use by the Social Security Administration, remained subject to 1967 city and county ad valorem tax liens that had been assessed as of the December 31, 1966 tax day but became due and payable after the purchases. The United States sought to enjoin tax sales, void the liens, or alternatively obtain a declaration that the title insurer Burton was obligated to pay any valid taxes under its policies. Following its prior decision in United States v. State of Michigan, the court held that the liens were valid and could not be voided because the property acquired a known taxable status on tax day that ran with the land to subsequent owners. The court further ruled that Burton was liable under the title policies because the policies contained no exclusion for such liens and the insurer had a duty to account for established Michigan tax law and federal precedent treating the government like other purchasers.
The case concerned a parcel of land in Southfield, Michigan, purchased by the United States on November 21, 1968, shortly before ad valorem county and school taxes became due on December 1. Michigan authorities placed the property up for tax sale after nonpayment, prompting the United States to seek an injunction against enforcement actions and a declaratory judgment voiding any tax liens. The court held that under Michigan's General Property Tax Law the property acquired an inchoate tax liability on the prior December 31 tax day that ripened into a lien on December 1, creating a valid lien that survived the federal acquisition. Because the lien could not be enforced against the United States, the court permanently enjoined any foreclosure or collection proceedings while title remained in the federal government but denied the request to void the liens themselves.
This case involved a collision between the Great Lakes freighters James E. Ferris and Ernest T. Weir in the St. Clair River on October 21, 1967, with the British motor vessel Toronto City maneuvering nearby; National Steel Corp. (owner of the Weir) sued Kinsman Marine Transit Co. (owner of the Ferris) and Bibby Line (owner of the Toronto City) for damages, with cross-claims among the parties. The court held that the Ferris was solely at fault and liable for provable damages to the Weir, the C&O docks, and any injuries to crewman Marsh, while finding no fault or negligence by the Weir or Toronto City. The decision rested on detailed factual findings about the vessels' navigation, positions, and maneuvers, concluding that the Ferris's own negligent actions created the collision and any emergency, precluding defenses such as in extremis, under the stipulated application of Canadian comparative negligence rules and American Rules of the Road.
The case involved a dispute over a Technical Exchange Agreement between two companies sharing computer time-sharing software and technology. The plaintiff provided confidential developments to the defendant, who sought to transfer them to a third party in violation of the agreement's confidentiality provisions. The court granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting the defendant from selling or disclosing the plaintiff's software to Tymshare, Inc., or others until November 1, 1972. The reasoning centered on the confidential nature of the information, the threat of irreparable harm to the plaintiff, the balance of equities favoring injunction, and the likelihood of the plaintiff's success on the merits, while rejecting arguments that enforcement was impossible due to prior transfers.
This case involves a wrongful death claim by the administratrix of Joseph Smith's estate against the owners of the M/V MAKEFJELL for injuries sustained when Smith, a longshoreman, was crushed by a falling crate during cargo unloading, along with a related indemnity action by the shipowners against the stevedoring company. The court found no shipowner negligence or unseaworthiness, attributing the accident to the negligence of the longshoremen in unloading crates out of order and the decedent's contributory negligence at 35%. Consequently, the shipowner was not liable in the death action, no damages were awarded due to the instantaneous death and lack of proven financial support, and the shipowner was entitled to indemnity from the stevedore for defense expenses under principles of warranty of workmanlike service.
This case involved Shatterproof Glass Corp. suing Guardian Glass Company over alleged infringement of a patent (Jendrisak patent 3,103,430) for a hinged bending mold used to shape glass for automobile windshields, along with claims of misappropriating 43 trade secrets. The court determined that Claims 1, 3, and 7 of the patent were invalid as obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103 based on prior art including earlier patents owned by the plaintiff and molds designed for Ford Motor Company, and that the plaintiff had no bona fide trade secrets. The court further ruled that even if valid, Claim 7 was not infringed, and the entire complaint was barred by laches and the statute of limitations due to the plaintiff's nine-year delay in suing after the alleged events in 1956. No attorney fees were awarded under 35 U.S.C. § 285.
