Morris Stern

How Judge Stern rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Stern 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
Retired 2014
Served
2001–2014
Commissioned
2001-01-01
Education
Lafayette College, B.S. in Industrial Engineering, 1962; Rutgers University School of Law, J.D. with honors, 1965; New York University School of Law, LL.M., 1975
Signed orders read
15

How Judge Stern decides

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

What persuades

The fair-market-value ruling prevented nominal foreclosure bids from creating a windfall before stay relief could be considered.

“Ms. Karagiannis is entitled to an FMV hearing to determine the value of the two properties acquired at the September 8, 2010 sheriffs sale by Crown Bank for nominal bids of $100 per property.”

Procedural preferences

Mass-tort service was adapted through designated counsel-agents, subject to limiting safeguards.

“Subject to the limiting factors set forth in the next paragraph, counsel to defendants here are the designated agents for initial service in the Adversary Proceeding.”

Cautions

Certification practices unsupported by genuine personal review produced both a district-wide injunction and substantial monetary sanctions.

“S & D shall be fined $125,000 for their Rule 9011 violations”

Signed rulings

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

In re Jong Hee Kang
· 2012-02-27
Motion to dismiss chapter 7 case (Debtor) Denied

“The debtor’s motion to dismiss must, accordingly, be denied for all of the reasons set forth herein.”

In re Karagiannis
· 2011-05-05
Request for fair market value hearing (Debtor) Granted

“Ms. Karagiannis is entitled to an FMV hearing to determine the value of the two properties acquired at the September 8, 2010 sheriffs sale by Crown Bank for nominal bids of $100 per property.”

Motion for relief from automatic stay (Crown Bank) Denied

“Crown Bank’s motion for stay relief as to the debtor’s residence and business-occupied property must be denied because the debt due the bank is a function of a yet-to-be-determined FMV credit due Ms. Karagiannis.”

Wasserman v. Capazzi (In re Day)
· 2011-02-02
Motion for summary judgment on avoidance claim (Chapter 7 Trustee) Granted

“In light of these conclusions of law based upon facts viewed most favorably to the defendants, there is no material issue of fact or law for trial, and summary judgment is granted to the trustee.”

PermaLife Products, LLC v. TSJ Dirt, LLC (In re PermaLife Products, LLC)
· 2010-07-08
Motion to dismiss for improper venue (Defendants) Denied

“For the reasons set forth throughout this Opinion, the motions to dismiss this proceeding based upon improper venue and to transfer venue, are denied.”

Motion to transfer venue (Defendants) Denied
Wilen v. Pamrapo Savings Bank, S.L.A. (In re Bayonne Medical Center)
· 2010-05-26
Motion for summary judgment on preference and fraudulent transfer counts (Pamrapo Savings Bank) Granted

“Pamrapo was not an ‘insider’ when BMC repaid $1 million in October 2006 (thus awarding Pamrapo summary judgment as to: the plaintiffs Count I preference avoidance cause of action (based upon the plaintiffs failure to establish the necessary 11 U.S.C. § 547(b)(4)(B) timing element)); and, the plaintiffs similar Count IV cause of action under N.J.S.A. 25:2-27(b) (for a like reason);”

Motion for summary judgment on avoidance counts (Liquidation Trustee) Denied

“The trustee’s motion is denied.”

Birdsall v. Tulloch (In re Tulloch)
· 2007-08-28
Adversary claim for nondischargeability (Plaintiff) Granted

“For all of the reasons set forth herein, the entire debt due on the Massachusetts Judgment is excepted from Mr. Tulloch’s bankruptcy discharge.”

Muralo Co. v. All Listed on Exhibits A Through D to Complaint (In re Muralo Co.)
· 2008-03-25
Motion to designate counsel as agents for service (Debtors) Granted

“Subject to the limiting factors set forth in the next paragraph, counsel to defendants here are the designated agents for initial service in the Adversary Proceeding.”

In re Rivera
· 2007-05-31
Request to enter proposed consent order (United States Trustee and EverHome) Granted

“The Order will be entered, rendering moot those differences which EverHome had with this court’s original Order.”

In re Rivera
· 2006-05-25
Motion for relief from automatic stay (Mortgage creditor) Denied

“The Rivera payment issues are resolved by a consent cure order. Therefore, no stay relief is warranted.”

Request for injunctive sanction against certification practice (Court on order to show cause) Granted

“An order shall be issued, permanently enjoining the S & D Certification Practice in this district and participation in practices violating court rules by many of the respondents cited in the court’s Orders to Show Cause.”

Request for rule 9011 monetary sanction against schwartz (Court on order to show cause) Granted

“Ms. Schwartz shall be fined $500”

Request for rule 9011 monetary sanction against law firm (Court on order to show cause) Granted

“S & D shall be fined $125,000 for their Rule 9011 violations”

Request for disciplinary referral (Court on order to show cause) Granted

“the conduct of Ms. Schwartz, Mr. Diaz and S & D shall be referred to the Chief Judge under the applicable disciplinary rules.”

Fuji Photo Film Co. v. Benun (In re Benun)
· 2006-03-10
Motion to compel attorney discovery (Fuji Photo Film Co.) Denied

“Fuji’s motion is denied.”

Michaels v. World Color Press, Inc. (In re LGI, Inc.)
· 2005-03-15
Motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (Defendants) Denied

“Defendants’ motion is therefore DENIED.”

Pemaquid Underwriting Brokerage, Inc. v. D & H Alternative Risk Solutions, Inc.
· 2005-01-12
Motion for summary judgment on account ownership (Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner) Granted

“Summary judgment is awarded the Commissioner on her motion, and the plaintiffs’ motion is accordingly denied.”

Motion for summary judgment on account ownership (Trustee and other plaintiffs) Denied

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

No motion-timing estimate is reported because the sampled matters contained no archived docket entries.

A historical record

Judge Stern 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.