Luis E. Rivera II
How Judge Rivera rules, drawn from 8 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Rivera
Luis E. Rivera II was sworn in as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida in October 2025. He sits in Tampa and also handles matters from the Fort Myers Division. Before joining the court, he practiced bankruptcy law and served as a Chapter 7 panel trustee.
Judge Rivera's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Rivera, 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.
- Judge Rivera’s Procedures Governing Court Appearances ↗
- Order Providing Temporary Zoom Procedures in the Fort Myers Division ↗
Key rules
Conferences
During the Fort Myers courthouse construction, Judge Rivera holds all non-evidentiary Fort Myers hearings by Zoom.
“Until further notice after conclusion of construction, the Court will hold all non-evidentiary hearings (including Chapter 13 confirmation hearings) by Zoom.”
Trial
Trials and evidentiary hearings before Judge Rivera are in person unless the court orders otherwise.
“Unless the Court specifically orders otherwise, the Court will conduct all trials and evidentiary hearings in person.”
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 Rivera decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the Medicare context, the payment-and-adjustment system was treated as one integrated transaction for recoupment purposes.
“this system of payments and later adjustments must be viewed as a single, integrated transaction for recoupment in bankruptcy.”
Procedural preferences
Discovery can be limited when customer burden and harm to a reorganization outweigh the incremental benefit of information available from less burdensome sources.
“the potential prejudice to the Debtors’ prospects of reorganization outweighs the likely benefit of discovery from the Debtors’ customers”
Cautions
A nominal management change does not establish independence; the court examines whether the new manager is genuinely separate from prior control.
“We must be cautious of efforts to create the appearance of new management independence without its reality.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Thus, the Court granted in part the Motion for Protective Order by limiting the temporal scope of the discovery and quashing the discovery requests made to Debtors’ customers.”
“The Debtors’ Emergency Application to Employ Oscher Consulting, PLLC as Independent Director is APPROVED as set forth herein.”
“The Court will overrule the objections and approve the appointment of Lisl Unterholzner and Oscher Consulting, PLLC”
“The Debtor’s Emergency Motion to Enforce the Automatic Stay is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“the Expedited Motion to Lift Automatic Stay (Doc. No. 10) filed by Creditor J.G. Properties, LLC, is GRANTED.”
“The request for in rem relief as against the Premises under 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(4) is denied without prejudice.”
“The Notice of Domestic Relations Exception, which the Court construes as a motion for an order confirming no automatic stay is in effect, is DENIED.”
“The Debtor’s Motion For Summary Judgment on U.S. Bank’s Motion for Relief from the Automatic Stay (Doc. No. 30) is GRANTED.”
“U.S. Bank’s Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay and Co-Debtor Stay (Doc. No. 17) is DENIED.”
“The Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.”
“Interim and Final Basis is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sample includes individual and corporate Chapter 7 cases, ordinary Chapter 11 cases, Subchapter V reorganizations, and a jointly administered large Chapter 11 proceeding.
Draft for Judge Rivera with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Rivera, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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