Suzana Krstevski Koch
How Judge Koch rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Koch
Suzana Krstevski Koch is a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. Her chambers are in Cleveland, where the court lists her current docket and hearing procedures.
Judge Koch's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Koch, 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.
- General Practices and Procedures for Appearing before Judge Koch ↗
- Motions That Do Not Require Local Rule 9013-1 Notice ↗
- Memorandum Regarding In-Person Hearings ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
Email to chambers does not request relief except for the limited administrative and emergency procedures in the judge’s practices.
“Emails to Chambers are not pleadings, and do not constitute a request for relief, other than for the limited purposes of administrative items and in compliance with the emergency hearings or expedited relief procedures.”
Motions
An emergency or expedited-hearing motion does not require the notice specified in Local Rule 9013-1.
“Motion for Temporary Restraining Order, emergency, or expedited hearing;”
Conferences
File an adjournment motion by 3 p.m. two business days before the hearing, unless using the agreed email procedure.
“Parties may request an adjournment by motion filed no later than 3:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled hearing.”
Conferences
Attend hearings in person unless the court orders otherwise.
“As of January 2, 2024, unless otherwise ordered, attorneys and pro se parties must attend all hearings in person.”
Conferences
Seek leave for a telephone appearance by motion explaining the reason by 3 p.m. two business days before the hearing.
“Any party or counsel who wishes to appear by telephone must file a motion requesting leave to attend by telephone explaining the reason for the request no later than 3:00 p.m. two business days before the scheduled hearing.”
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).
How Judge Koch decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
When intent turns on competing inferences, the court reserves the issue for trial and credibility assessment even if many underlying facts are undisputed.
“without an assessment of Kopanski’s demeanor and credibility, the Court construes the evidence in favor of the non-movant and determines that genuine issues of material fact remain”
A bare assertion that a proof of claim lacks documentation does not overcome its presumptive validity without evidence calling the claim into question.
“Debtor’s bare statement that there is lack of documentation is insufficient to overcome Proof of Claim 11-1’s presumption of prima facie validity.”
Procedural preferences
When late admission responses threaten to decide the case on legal conclusions rather than the merits, the court distinguishes factual admissions from requests that seek pure legal conclusions.
“Requests for Admission numbers 18, 19, and 20 are pure requests for opinions of law (admissions that the debt is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. §§ 523(a)(2), (4), and (6)), so they are deemed withdrawn.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Therefore, the Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.”
“Accordingly, the Motion to Vacate Discharge is denied.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the United States Trustee’s Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.”
“For the reasons above, Debtor’s Objection to Nunoo’s Proof of Claim No. 1 is sustained in part and overruled in part.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Motion for Summary Judgment of Daniel Hemme is granted in part and denied in part as follows:”
“For these reasons, Debtor’s Objection to Claim Number 2 is overruled.”
“Berkley’s 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss the § 523(a)(2)(A) claim and § 523(a)(4) claim under the embezzlement provision is denied. Berkley’s Motion to Dismiss the Plaintiffs’ § 523(a)(4) claim under the fraud or defalcation while acting in a fiduciary capacity provision and larceny provision is granted.”
“The Rule 12(e) Motion for More Definite Statement is denied.”
“the debt of Catanzarite to Rewak is hereby determined to be nondischargeable in the amount of $46,845.87.”
“The Objection is overruled.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 26) be, and hereby is, GRANTED.”
“The Motion to Deem is denied.”
“The Motion for Leave is granted.”
“The Motion to Withdraw pursuant to Civil Rule 36(b) is granted in part and denied in part.”
“Six Brothers has not established the existence of an affirmative defense; therefore the Trustee’s Motion for Summary Judgment is granted.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Four sampled matters were recorded as terminated and one remained pending. One adversary stream supplied an express mixed summary-judgment disposition.
Draft for Judge Koch with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Koch, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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