Caryl E. Delano
How Judge Delano rules, drawn from 22 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Delano
Caryl E. Delano has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida since June 2008. She practiced bankruptcy and commercial litigation before joining the court. She earned degrees from the University of South Florida and Indiana University School of Law–Indianapolis.
Judge Delano's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Delano, 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
Conferences
Do not go to the Fort Myers courthouse for Judge Delano’s hearing unless notified that it will be in person there.
“Unless you are notified that a hearing will be conducted in person in Fort Myers, DO NOT come to the Fort Myers Courthouse, as Judge Delano’s Fort Myers courtroom will not be accessible.”
Conferences
Register for a remote Zoom appearance by 3 p.m. one business day before the hearing.
“To participate in the hearing remotely via Zoom (whether by video or by telephone), you must register in advance no later than 3:00 p.m. one business day before the date of the hearing.”
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).
- Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Available Procedures in Student Loan Discharge Adversary Proceedings ↗
- Amended Administrative Order Providing Limited Authority to Expend Funds ↗
- Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Chapter 13 Cases Filed on or After October 1, 2025 ↗
- Administrative Order Vacating FLMB-2020-4 and Reinstating Original-Signature Requirements ↗
- Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Student Loan Management Program ↗
- Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Sixth Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Mortgage Modification Mediation ↗
- Amended Administrative Order Requiring Photo Identification by Unrepresented Parties ↗
How Judge Delano decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In In re Edward Park and Keun Yung Park, she held that merely naming a directly paid secured creditor in a Chapter 13 plan did not provide for its claim or discharge it.
“The mere mention of a creditor in a debtor’s Chapter 13 plan, without more, does not result in that creditor’s claim being ‘provided for’ under the plan.”
In Woodson’s Chapter 13 case, Delano denied turnover of a car repossessed before the petition because Florida law had already transferred title to the lender, leaving it outside the estate.
“Therefore, a car that is repossessed by the lender before the car owner files a bankruptcy case is not property of the debtor’s estate.”
Procedural preferences
In Russo v. HD Supply Electrical, Ltd., she reviewed opposing summary-judgment motions separately and found factual disputes about notice and a claimed discharge violation.
“When parties have filed cross motions for summary judgment, courts review each motion separately under the Rule 56(a) standard.”
Cautions
In In re HWA Properties, Inc., she rejected proposed releases for nondebtor insiders because the plan did not present a true reorganization and the releases were not necessary or fair.
“But the fundamental problem in this case is that the Plan does not propose a true reorganization; instead, the Plan is a restructuring of various obligations in an effort to obtain releases for Mr. and Mrs. Albright and their entities.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERED that the Trustee’s Amended Objections to Property Claimed as Exempt is hereby SUSTAINED.”
“Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the Debtor’s Motion for Rule to Show Cause (Doc. No. 115) is DENIED.”
“ORDERED that Suncoast’s Request for Certification is DENIED.”
“the Court shall enter an order overruling the Trustee’s objection to the Debtor’s claim of exemption”
“has previously entered its Order Sustaining Objection to Chapter 7 Trustee’s Report and Notice of Intention to Sell (Doc. No. 69).”
“The Trustee’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 28) is DENIED.”
“Defendant DKA’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 21) is GRANTED.”
“Defendant West Coast’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 25) is GRANTED.”
“The Motions for Summary Judgment are DENIED.”
“The Motion to Strike is GRANTED as to [¶] Supply’s first, third, fourth, and fifth affirmative defenses and DENIED as to [¶] Supply’s second affirmative defense.”
“the Motions to Dismiss (Doc. Nos. 26 and 36) are GRANTED, and the Second Amended Complaint (Doc. No. 34) is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“the Court shall enter a separate judgment in favor of HSBC on Counts I through VIII of the Amended Complaint, denying the relief sought by the Debtor, and in favor of HSBC granting it the relief prayed for in its Amended Counterclaim and Third Party Complaint.”
“the Summary Judgment Motion as a motion to amend the Complaint, DENIES the motion as to Plaintiffs’ claim to except the debt from discharge under § 523(a)(4) as a claim for embezzlement and GRANTS the motion as to Plaintiffs’ claim to except the debt from discharge under § 523(a)(4) as a claim for larceny.”
“Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment Motion is DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs’ claims are not excepted from discharge, and Defendants’ discharge shall not be barred.”
“Therefore, the Court will deny approval of the compromise and confirmation of Debtor’s plan.”
“Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is, GRANTED IN PART as set forth herein and otherwise DENIED.”
Draft for Judge Delano with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Delano, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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