Fredrick E. Clement

How Judge Clement rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California
Position
bankruptcy
Appointed by
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Commissioned
2012-03-16
Education
Westmont College, B.A., cum laude; University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D., cum laude
Signed orders read
15

How Judge Clement decides

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

What persuades

A professional-employment defect may be cured where the omission was unintentional, the relationship was visible in the record, the outcome was unaffected, and continued participation served the estate.

“First, the court believes the error was unintentional. Second, the court notes that it was Hawkins that first brought the matter to the court’s attention. Third, Allen’s representation of the Hartys was not being concealed as the representation was evident from the Hartys’ judgment”

Procedural preferences

A compensation request should match the governing fee election and provide records supporting the amount sought.

“Moreover, Glazer and Cherry have not sustained their burden of proof as to the amount. The default method for approval of compensation in a Chapter 13 case is the lodestar method.”

Cautions

Default judgment requires evidence sufficient to establish each element; a sparse declaration will not substitute for proof of fraud.

“The plaintiff’s request for a default judgment will be denied without prejudice.”

Signed rulings

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

Wilkinson v. PHH Mortgage Corporation
25-02061 · 2025-09-16
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Granted in part

“For each of these reasons, the motion will be granted with prejudice as to the first four causes of action. As to the fifth cause of action, the motion will be granted with leave to amend, and denied as to all other defendants.”

In re Ohlinger
24-21356 · 2024-12-05
Motion for compensation (debtor's counsel) Denied

“For the reasons indicated, the motion for compensation is denied;”

Motion to confirm chapter 13 plan (debtor) Granted

“The motion for confirmation is granted, provided the order confirming includes verbiage correcting the First Modified Chapter 13 Plan § 3.0 to provide for payment of the administrative claim of Glazer and Cherry in equal monthly installments over the term of the Chapter 13 Plan.”

In re Par 5 Property Investments, LLC
21-22404 · 2022-10-26
Motion to disgorge professional fees (United States Trustee) Granted

“the motion to disgorge granted.”

Motion to revoke professional employment (United States Trustee) Granted

“The order approving Macdonald Fernandez LLP’s employment will be revoked.”

Sedgwick FundingCo, LLC v. NewDelman
18-02180 · 2022-01-20
Summary judgment (Sedgwick FundingCo, LLC) Granted in part

“For the reasons stated herein, Sedgwick FundingCo, LLC’s motion will be granted in part and denied in part;”

Summary judgment (NewDelman Group) Granted in part

“the NewDelman Group’s motion will be granted in part and denied in part.”

In re Confer
21-20167 · 2021-06-08
Motion for relief from automatic stay (Jacob Watson and James Watson) Denied

“As to the estate, the motion will be denied as moot; as to the debtors and their property, including 295 San Joaquin Drive, Red Bluff, California, the motion will be denied.”

In re Wide West Services, LLC
13-12551 · 2013-09-12
Motion to dismiss bankruptcy case (creditors) Granted

“Based on the foregoing, the motion will be granted, and the case dismissed.”

In re Grant
12-19109 · 2014-03-10
Motion for nunc pro tunc employment (Wild, Carter & Tipton) Denied

“For the reasons discussed, the motion for nunc pro tunc employment is denied.”

Motion for compensation (Wild, Carter & Tipton) Denied

“Since employment is a prerequisite to compensation from the estate, the motion for compensation is also denied.”

In re Hummer Transportation, Inc.
11-60663 · 2013-09-12
Supplemental application to employ special counsel (Chapter 7 trustee) Granted

“the supplemental application to employ Allen as special counsel will be approved nunc pro tunc to July 23, 2012,”

Motion to vacate professional employment order (Hawkins) Denied

“the motion to vacate the order previously approving his employment will be denied.”

Cabardo v. Patacsil
20-02167 · 2023-02-13
Motion in limine (defendants) Denied

“For each of these reasons, the motion in limine to exclude evidence of ‘employee misconduct’ is denied.”

Cabardo v. Patacsil
20-02167 · 2023-02-13
Motion in limine (defendants) Denied

“For each of these reasons, the motion in limine to exclude testimony and other evidence of non-percipient witnesses is denied.”

Malysiak v. Schmidt
21-02018 · 2023-01-24
Motion for reconsideration (Gregory Schmidt) Denied

“For each of these reasons, Gregory Schmidt’s motion for reconsideration is denied.”

Watson v. Confer
21-02024 · 2021-11-12
Default judgment (plaintiffs) Denied

“The plaintiff’s request for a default judgment will be denied without prejudice.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Completed-case duration is reported for 5 terminated matters in the fixed sample.

Draft for Judge Clement with the record in hand

Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Clement, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.

Opens in Ezel Pro.

  • Grounded in Judge Clement's own signed orders
  • Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
  • Chat, drafting and research in one workspace