Hannah L. Blumenstiel
How Judge Blumenstiel rules, drawn from 12 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Blumenstiel
Hannah L. Blumenstiel has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of California since February 2013. Before joining the bench, she practiced bankruptcy litigation and clerked for a bankruptcy judge in the Southern District of Ohio. She earned degrees from The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School.
Judge Blumenstiel's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Blumenstiel, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Filing
Do not send chambers copies to Judge Blumenstiel.
“Judge Blumenstiel does not want chambers copies of any pleading or other document filed with the Court. Please do not send chambers copies.”
Motions
Include the motion and supporting memorandum with an application to shorten time.
“Such Applications must comply with B.L.R. 9006-1 and Rule 9006(c) and must include a copy of the motion and supporting memorandum of points and authorities”
Discovery
After meeting and conferring, email a discovery dispute letter of no more than five pages to the courtroom deputy instead of filing a discovery motion.
“the parties should not file discovery motions. Rather, the aggrieved party should submit a letter brief of no more than five (5) pages to the Court via email”
Conferences
Judge Blumenstiel holds hearings by Zoom; notices must include the required remote hearing language.
“Judge Blumenstiel conducts all hearings via Zoom. All Notices of Hearings must include the remote hearing language required by SF Noticing Procedures,”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026).
How Judge Blumenstiel decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Fraud-based nondischargeability turns on proof of each debtor's own knowledge or on a grounded basis to impute an agent's fraud.
“It is only where a debtor learns of facts that require investigation into the agent's conduct but fails to undertake such an inquiry that a court can find that the debtor ‘should have known’ of the agent's fraud”
Cautions
A creditor must distinguish intentional deception from conduct that caused loss without an intent to injure.
“This evidence does not, however, establish that Mr. Carroll actually intended for Mr. Jadallah never to be repaid”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiffs have failed to meet their burden of establishing nondis-chargeability under sections 528(a)(4) and 528(a)(19).”
“Having ruled in favor of the Defendant on both causes of action, the Court will enter judgment in favor of Defendant.”
“the Court finds that Mr. Buckley has satisfied his burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the Bartenwerfers’s debt to Mr. Buckley with respect to the non-disclosure of water leaks, window conditions, permits, and the fire escape is nondis-chargeable”
“Mr. Jadallah has met his burden of establishing that Mr. Carroll’s liability for fraud related to the March 7, May 14, May 28, and August 9 advances is nondis-chargeable under section 523(a)(2)(A).”
“has failed to establish nondisehargeability as to any of the advances under section 523(a)(6).”
“the court will render judgment on Mr. Buckley's complaint in favor of Mrs. Bartenwerfer.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Paxton's Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part”
“against Heller and the Claim is hereby DISALLOWED.”
“shall be allowed non-dischargeable attorneys’ fees in the amount”
“Accordingly, Defendants’ claim will be allowed in the amount of”
“favor on all claims raised by TRICO Pipes and Mr. Hodess and”
“Hujazi on all counts asserted in Mr. Heatley’s complaint.”
“The Motion is hereby GRANTED;”
“Plaintiffs’ Request for Judicial Notice is hereby 16 GRANTED;”
“Turlington and in favor of Mr. Grover on the claims for relief”
Draft for Judge Blumenstiel with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Blumenstiel, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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