Robert E. Littlefield Jr.
How Judge Littlefield rules, drawn from 26 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Littlefield no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Littlefield decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Clear notice, proper service, and uncontested valuation supported lien-avoidance relief through motion practice.
“Here, the Debtors have met the requirements of adequate notice and service, and have sufficiently supported their claim for relief.”
Plausibly alleged intent issues were treated as fact-intensive questions unsuitable for resolution at the pleading stage.
“Intent is a fact intensive inquiry and typically is not suitable for resolution in a motion to dismiss.”
Procedural preferences
Accurate schedules and financial statements were treated as essential to informed participation in the bankruptcy process.
“The veracity of a debtor’s schedules and financial statements is imperative to ensure all parties involved in a bankruptcy proceeding are informed and can collaborate in good faith.”
Before seeking stay-violation sanctions, a practical effort to resolve the collection problem could conserve party and court resources.
“it would have been reasonable for the Debtor to reach out to the Creditor prior to filing the Motion.”
Cautions
A confirmed plan was not modified without a material change that overcame the policy favoring finality.
“given the Code’s policy of finality of confirmed plans, there is no basis to amend the confirmed plan.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
The court requested a fuller factual record before deciding whether equitable tolling applied to the tax-priority period.
“Confirmation of Debtors’ Second Amended Chapter 12 Plan is hereby denied without prejudice”
“Capital’s motion for relief from the stay is hereby denied”
“the portion of Endurance's Motion requesting that the Court reconsider dismissal and convert the Debtor's case to chapter 7 is DENIED”
After trial, an $800 timeshare-upgrade charge was held nondischargeable.
“the IRS’s motion for partial reconsideration is granted in part”
After trial, deficient construction-project records did not justify denial of discharge because they did not impede administration of the bankruptcy estate.
“the Trustee’s objection to the Debtor’s claim of exemption is overruled”
“The Debtor is directed to turn over to the Trustee within ten days of the date of this order $351.19 of non-exempt funds”
“the Trustee’s objection to the confirmation of the plan is SUSTAINED”
“the Debtor's exemption of her inherited IRA is disallowed”
“the objections of the Trustee and eCast are overruled”
The state labor department's order to comply fell within the police-and-regulatory-powers exception to the automatic stay.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All five sampled matters were terminated; two related business-bankruptcy records supplied the majority of express motion outcomes.
A historical record
Judge Littlefield 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.