D. Joseph DeVito

How Judge DeVito rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge DeVito no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
Position
bankruptcy
Status
Deceased
Commissioned
1972
Education
University of Michigan; New Jersey Law School (now Rutgers Law School), law degree, 1938
Signed orders read
20

How Judge DeVito decides

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

What persuades

A lease essential to reorganization could be assumed after cure and adequate assurance of future performance.

“without this lease the debtor’s efforts to reorganize would surely fail”

Procedural preferences

State court could determine the equitable-mortgage issue while the bankruptcy court retained control of any later foreclosure and distribution.

“the path to be taken by this Court is clear.”

Cautions

Expired filing deadlines were rarely enlarged, even where the proposed nondischargeability claim appeared substantial.

“Evident merit (i.e., here, the debtor’s fraud) is not material to a determination of excusable neglect with respect to the filing of a complaint out of time.”

Signed rulings

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

Matter of Wesmac Computer Systems, Inc.
· 1986-03-11
Motion to assume lease (Wesmac Computer Systems, Inc.) Granted

“The instant motion is for the assumption of a lease between the debtor and its landlord. Upon a review of the pleadings, the motion is granted.”

Matter of Nkongho
· 1986-03-10
Motion for relief from automatic stay (Kevin S. Donahue) Granted

“At the conclusion of the hearing, the Court granted the motion and entered an order to that effect on the same day.”

Matter of Bump
· 1985-07-19
Motion for turnover (Chapter 7 debtors) Denied

“the motion of the debtors is denied.”

Matter of Grube
· 1985-06-19
Motion to avoid judicial lien (Chapter 7 debtors) Granted

“debtors’ motion to avoid the fixing of Westvaco’s lien is granted.”

Janoff v. Janoff (In Re Janoff)
· 1985-10-29
Summary judgment (Barry L. Janoff) Denied

“his motion for summary judgment and the defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s count seeking sale of the house are denied.”

Motion to dismiss complaint (Veronica Janoff) Denied
Matter of Costa
· 1985-03-12
Motion for turnover (Chapter 7 trustee) Granted

“this Court grants the motion of the interim trustee and hereby orders the Bakers Insurance Company to reissue the checks”

Pacheco v. First National Bank of Central Jersey (In Re Pacheco)
· 1985-03-26
Motion for attorney fees (Debtor's counsel) Denied

“the Court denies plaintiffs motion for counsel fees”

Consolidated Energy Corp. v. O'Brien (In Re Compass Development, Inc.)
· 1985-11-22
Summary judgment (O'Brien heirs) Granted

“grants the defendants’ cross-motion for summary judgment and dismisses the plaintiff’s complaint with prejudice.”

Matter of Smithuysen
· 1985-07-22
Motion to extend filing deadline (John Chimenti) Denied

“Chimenti’s motion is denied.”

Matter of Gilbert Broadcasting Corp.
· 1984-03-30
Motion to dismiss or convert case (Joseph Soriano) Granted in part

“the interests of all the creditors will best be served by conversion, rather than by dismissal.”

Matter of Williston Oil Corp.
· 1984-09-26
Motion for combined stay and injunctive relief (Williston Oil Corporation and affiliated debtors) Denied

“the debtors’ requested relief is denied in its entirety.”

SCK Corp. v. Rosenblum (In Re SCK Corp.)
· 1984-10-17
Request for declaratory relief (SCK Corp. and the Constantins) Granted

“the Constantins are entitled to possession and control of all of the outstanding shares of SCK stock”

Request for injunctive relief (SCK Corp.) Denied

“the Court finds that there is no present justification for the issuance of the injunction.”

Motion to consolidate (Parties seeking consolidation) Moot / procedural

“the request to consolidate the proceedings is moot.”

A historical record

Judge DeVito no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.