Thomas B. Donovan

How Judge Donovan rules, drawn from 22 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Donovan no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
Position
bankruptcy
Status
Retired 2017
Served
1994–2017
Appointed by
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Commissioned
1994-03-21
Education
University of California, Berkeley (B.A., 1957); University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
Signed orders read
22

How Judge Donovan decides

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

Procedural preferences

Attorney neglect can justify vacating a dismissal when it is so extreme that attributing it to the client would undermine a merits decision.

“Brookins’s neglect was ‘so gross that it is inexcusable.’”

Cautions

A party seeking relief after dismissal should be prepared to show diligent prosecution at each stage.

“Plaintiff has failed, at every turn, to diligently and effectively prosecute his adversary proceeding in the Bankruptcy Court.”

Signed rulings

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

Lebrun v. Rezvani
2:14-ap-01676 · 2015-09-22
Motion for reconsideration (plaintiff John Lebrun) Granted

“The court’s order dismissing the adversary proceeding for failure to prosecute is hereby vacated.”

Motion to dismiss complaint Granted

“Plaintiff’s adversary complaint for nondischargeability is dismissed, with leave to file and serve a First Amended Complaint no later than 21 days from the entry of this order.”

In re Gold River Valley, LLC
2:15-bk-10691 · 2015-09-16
Motion to confirm plan (debtor Gold River Valley, LLC) Granted in part

“Debtor’s Plan [Doc. No. 84] and each of its provisions (as if set forth in this Order) is conditionally approved and confirmed”

In re NNN 1818 Market Street 16, LLC
2:15-bk-10111 · 2015-03-05
Motion to dismiss bankruptcy case (Daymark Properties Realty, Inc.) Granted

“dismissal of each of the Jointly Administered Debtors’ chapter 11 cases is in the best interest of creditors and the estates.”

NNN 1818 Market Street 16, LLC v. Daymark Properties Realty, Inc.
2:15-ap-01013 · 2015-03-05
Motions to remand (court sua sponte, supported by Daymark Properties Realty, Inc.) Granted

“there are substantial and compelling equitable grounds for remand of the Removed Action under 28 U.S.C. § 1452(b).”

NNN 1818 Market Street 1, LLC v. O'Keefe
2:15-ap-01012 · 2015-03-05
Motions to remand (court sua sponte, supported by the non-removing parties) Granted

“there are substantial and compelling equitable grounds for remand of the Removed Action under 28 U.S.C. § 1452(b).”

Daymark Properties Realty, Inc. v. NNN 1818 Market Street 16, LLC
2:15-ap-01011 · 2015-03-05
Motions to remand (court sua sponte, supported by Daymark Properties Realty, Inc.) Granted

“there are substantial and compelling equitable grounds for remand of the Removed Action under 28 U.S.C. § 1452(b).”

In re Michael Yoon and Sandra Yoon
2:12-bk-10787 · 2014-10-24
Motion for reconsideration (BBCN Bank) Granted

“The Debtors’ objections to the Bank’s claims are overruled. The Bank’s claims as amended in Claim No. 11 are granted.”

Fremont v. United States
2:13-ap-02200 · 2014-10-24
Summary judgment (United States) Denied

“the government’s motion must be denied.”

In re James Keith Olen and Ngozi Evelyn Bolin
2:13-bk-38721 · 2014-08-22
Motion to dismiss bankruptcy case (United States Trustee) Granted

“dismissal under 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(3)(B) is appropriate”

In re Exo-Grey Corporation
2:14-bk-15874 · 2014-08-22
Motion to approve disclosure statement (debtor Exo-Grey Corporation) Denied

“approval of the Disclosure Statement is denied.”

In re Mark Alan Shoemaker
2:10-bk-30910 · 2014-08-08
Motion for relief from stay (Caliber Home Loans Inc., as attorney in fact for U.S. Bank Trust, N.A.) Granted

“In light of the foregoing, the Motion is granted under 11 U.S.C § 362(d)(1). The stay provided under Rule 4001(a)(3) is waived.”

In re MJM Management, LLC
2:13-bk-28734 · 2014-05-12
Application to employ counsel (Law Offices of Thomas F. Nowland) Granted in part

“Its current, late filed employment application is granted, but subject to § 330, not § 328.”

Application for attorneys fees (Law Offices of Thomas F. Nowland) Granted in part

“For all the forgoing reasons, the court believes that an award of $35,200 is reasonable and appropriate.”

A historical record

Judge Donovan no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.