Rodney Redfearn Steele
How Judge Steele rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Steele no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Steele
Rodney Redfearn Steele served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Alabama from September 1967 until retiring in 1999, including service as chief judge. Before taking the bench, he practiced law, clerked for an Alabama Supreme Court justice, and worked as an assistant United States attorney.
How Judge Steele decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
State-law claims involving multiple nondebtor parties were returned to state court when their connection to the bankruptcy estate was remote and the dischargeability issue could be retained separately.
“Upon the motions for either abstention or remand, this court ought to remand the matter to state court particularly since the case involves multiple non-debtor defendants, who are not ordinarily under the jurisdiction of this court and whose claims will be more readily liquidated in a state court forum.”
Cautions
In Cottrell’s Chapter 13 case, the court held that the foreclosure sale was complete the day before the petition was filed and that the automatic stay did not undo the sale.
“Alabama case law and the Bankruptcy Code provide that the court must decide that the foreclosure sale in question was complete on the day of the foreclosure sale, May 9, 1996.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The conclusion we reach is that the transfers, amounting to $1081.50, sought to be recovered by the Debtor and the Trustee, were transfers which occurred within the 90 day period before bankruptcy was filed, and are due to be returned to this estate under Title 11 U.S.C. § 547.”
“ORDERED SUSTAINED and the plan is CONFIRMED with this PROVISO: That debtors plan is modified to provide 100% to unsecured creditors.”
The signed order calculated surviving postpetition student-loan interest and disallowed additional collection charges after completion of the plan.
“ORDERED that the Motion to Hold the Creditor City of Montgomery in contempt is denied.”
“Defendant’s action was willful and malicious. The judgment which Plaintiff holds against Defendant is non-disehargeable.”
“The tax penalty here is thus not discharge-able.”
“The court concludes that the foreclosure of the residence of plaintiff, Odell Cottrell, on May 9,1996 was valid.”
“It is FURTHER ORDERED that the case is CONFIRMED.”
“ORDERED DENIED and the debtors are to retain possession of the vehicles and Fast Cash Title Exchange is to be paid through the debtors’ Chapter 13 plan.”
“It is therefore ORDERED that the court abstains under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1452 and 1334, and remands the case to the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama under 28 U.S.C. § 1452 and Rule 9027(d) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.”
“It is therefore ORDERED that Trustee’s Motion to Withdraw his motion of February 15, 1994 is GRANTED.”
“It is further ORDERED that debtors’ Objections to Dismissal are OVERRULED.”
“It is further ORDERED that, upon Trustee’s Motion, this case is DISMISSED.”
“It is therefore ORDERED that the order discharging debtor is AMENDED to this limited extent: that all debts owed to the Estate of Allbun L. Smith are not affected by the terms and provisions of said discharge.”
“Additionally, it is ORDERED that Debtor’s motion to avoid the judicial lien of the Estate of Smith is DENIED.”
“It is further ORDERED that Ward's Complaint for Permanent Injunction is decided in favor of defendants and no injunction will enter.”
A historical record
Judge Steele no longer sits on this court. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.