James R. Ahler

How Judge Ahler rules, drawn from 23 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana
Position
bankruptcy
Appointed by
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Commissioned
2017-06-16
Education
Indiana University-Bloomington; Saint Louis University School of Law
Signed orders read
23

How Judge Ahler decides

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

What persuades

A cure-by-sale plan needs concrete marketing evidence and realistic sale timing rather than events outside the debtor's control.

“If a debtor cannot produce anything more than remote speculation as to the terms or dates of a sale. .. the court cannot confirm the plan.”

Procedural preferences

Claim objections must identify a statutory ground for disallowance even when the creditor does not respond.

“an objection to a proof of claim must allege facts which, if accepted as true, would trigger one of the statutory reasons for denying a claim. If it does not, the objection should not be sustained.”

Signed rulings

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

State of Indiana Family and Social Services Administration v. Barnes
18-02032 (17-22314) · 2019-09-03
Default judgment (State of Indiana Family and Social Services Administration) Denied

“Therefore, since there are no allegations whatsoever that Defendant acted with the required intent to deceive, Plaintiff’s Motion is DENIED.”

Harris-Teamer v. Educational Credit Management Corp.
17-02022 (17-20398) · 2019-09-04
Motion to withdraw admissions (Markeeta Latrise Harris-Teamer) Denied

“For the foregoing reasons, the Court now DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Withdraw Admissions.”

In re Algozine Masonry Restoration, Inc.
16-23208 · 2021-04-15
Motion for relief from automatic stay (Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers) Granted

“the Union’s Motion is granted and the automatic stay of 11 U.S.C. § 362 does not preclude the arbitration”

In re Pablo Ramirez
10-23330 · 2022-01-11
Motion for payment of unclaimed funds (Pablo Ramirez) Denied

“Therefore, under the facts presented, the Court finds that the Motion should be denied.”

In re Vanessa Faye Chandler
07-21142 · 2022-01-11
Motion for payment of unclaimed funds (Vanessa Faye Chandler) Denied

“Therefore, under the facts presented, the Court finds that the Motion should be denied.”

In re H.R.P. II, LLC
17-21695 · 2022-03-25
Motion for rule to show cause and execution (Renee M. Babcoke) Denied

“For the foregoing reasons, Babcoke’s Motion for Rule to Show Cause and Execution Pursuant to Civil Rule 70 and Bankruptcy Rules 9020 and 9021 is DENIED.”

In re James Nowacki
19-20178 · 2022-03-25
Objection to plan confirmation (Lake County Treasurer) Granted

“For the foregoing reasons, the Treasurer’s objection is sustained, and confirmation of the Amended Plan is DENIED.”

Plan confirmation (James Nowacki) Denied
In re Timothy Michael Rueth
19-22496 · 2022-03-25
Motion to set aside order of relief and abandonment (Timothy Michael Rueth) Denied

“Motion to Set Aside Order of Relief & Abandonment is DENIED.”

Sterling v. Southlake Nautilus Health & Racquet Club, Inc.
12-02102 (09-24206) · 2023-10-03

Following trial, the debtor received damages and attorney fees for collection conduct that violated bankruptcy protections.

Lain v. Brooks (In re Connolly)
23-02031 (22-20965) · 2025-05-23
Summary judgment (Chapter 7 trustee) Granted in part

“For the reasons stated herein, the Court partially GRANTS summary judgment, in favor of Trustee with respect to COUNT I of the Complaint and finds that, as of the Petition Date, Debtor held a 100% interest in Dapan Entertainment, and that interest is property of the bankruptcy estate pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 541. However, summary judgment is DENIED, in part, as to Count I of the Complaint as to whether Debtor, as of the petition date, held a 100% membership interest in Dapan Investments.”

Cross motion for summary judgment (Noreen Connolly) Denied

“summary judgment is DENIED.”

Lain v. Connolly (In re Connolly)
23-02031 (22-20965) · 2026-03-24

After trial, the court found that the debtor's ownership interest belonged to the bankruptcy estate.

In re 381 Investments, Inc.
25-21809 · 2026-04-03
Motion to reinstate case (381 Investments, Inc.) Denied

“IT IS THREFORE ORDERED that Debtor’s Motion to Reinstate Case is DENIED.”

Draft for Judge Ahler with the record in hand

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

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