Paul Sala

How Judge Sala rules, drawn from 1 signed order. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona
Position
bankruptcy
Appointed by
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Commissioned
2014-07-01
Education
University of Utah, B.S., 1984; University of Utah, J.D., 1987
Signed orders read
1

How Judge Sala decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

When unresolved state-law questions may control the case, Sala may certify the questions rather than decide them without controlling state precedent.

“Neither party was able to cite the Court to Arizona precedential authority on the direct questions raised in the Motion for Summary Judgment – namely, whether Patel, as a member or manager of SHHP, owed common law fiduciary duties to SHHP?”

Procedural preferences

A motion to extend Chapter 11 plan exclusivity must be set for hearing; Sala will deny one presented through a negative-notice procedure.

“Motions filed utilizing a negative/bar date procedure will be denied.”

Documents must be filed through the court's filing system or with the clerk rather than sent directly to chambers.

“THE COURT DOES NOT ACCEPT FOR FILING DOCUMENTS SENT DIRECTLY TO CHAMBERS VIA EITHER FAX OR E-MAIL.”

Trial continuances require a showing of cause and are not routinely encouraged.

“A continuance of a trial is not encouraged. Cause must be shown.”

Cautions

For preliminary stay-relief hearings, parties should file the required declarations because omission can lead to a summary ruling.

“FAILURE TO FILE DECLARATIONS MAY AFFECT THE COURT’S RULING ON THIS MATTER EITHER SUMMARILY GRANTING OR DENYING THE RELIEF REQUESTED.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Sky Harbor Hotel Properties, LLC v. Patel Properties, LLC
2:18-ap-00126-PS · 2019-01-29

Sala asked the Arizona Supreme Court to decide whether managers and members of Arizona limited-liability companies owe common-law fiduciary duties to the company. The order did not resolve the defendant's pending summary-judgment motion.

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Thirteen terminated sampled matters lasted from 111 to 575 days, with a median of 209 days. The fixed sample is descriptive and is not a complete caseload census.

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