Beth A. Buchanan
How Judge Buchanan rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Buchanan decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Prompt corrective action after counsel discovered a service error supported a short extension tied to a firm service deadline.
“once made aware of its error by the Debtor, DSIC acted promptly to seek leave of court to rectify the situation.”
Detailed findings entered after a state-court trial can establish the willful-and-malicious elements through issue preclusion.
“The findings and legal conclusions in the Georgia Judgment are identical to and meet the requirements for both a ‘willful’ and ‘malicious’ injury pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(6).”
A party seeking to extend a dischargeability deadline benefited from timely filing, disclosure inaccuracies, and the opposing party's lack of demonstrated prejudice.
“These ‘hurdles,’ whether purposefully put in place by the Debtor or not, may have prevented the fact gathering needed for Mr. Ellison’s counsel to file a timely adversary complaint.”
Procedural preferences
Missing a scheduling-order deadline for witness and exhibit disclosures can preclude the evidence and leave the movant unable to carry the burden of proof.
“Because the Debtor failed to file and serve witness and exhibit lists and exhibits by the Scheduling Order’s April 29, 2025 deadline, this Court precluded the Debtor from presenting witness testimony and exhibits at the May 6, 2025 hearing.”
A dischargeability complaint must separately identify the nonbankruptcy cause of action that creates and quantifies the underlying debt.
“A claim under § 523(a)(6) is a bankruptcy specific cause of action to except a prepetition debt from discharge; it cannot be used to establish the debt itself.”
Cautions
An amended complaint ordinarily supersedes the original pleading and may moot a pending motion directed only to the original complaint.
“As such, this Court concludes that the amended complaint moots the pending motion to dismiss.”
Marriage and a joint bankruptcy filing do not by themselves establish that both spouses owe the same debt.
“her marriage and joint bankruptcy filing does not establish that Pamela Hogeback owes Plaintiffs a debt.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the foregoing reasons, the Debtor’s Motion to Dismiss is denied and DSIC’s Motion to Extend Time is granted.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss [Docket Number 10] is DENIED contingent upon Plaintiff filing an amended complaint to clearly label and separately set forth the non-bankruptcy law causes of action it pursues along with factual allegations supportive to the elements of each cause of action.”
“Accordingly, summary judgment is granted in favor of the Plaintiffs and the State Court Judgment debt, including the award of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees, is excepted from discharge.”
“Considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties and the low threshold for granting timely filed motions to extend time under Rule 4007(c), this Court GRANTS the Motion of Wayne E. Ellison for an Extension of Time to Bring Adversary Action [Docket Number 66].”
“For the reasons stated, this Court GRANTS Mr. Ellison’s Motion for Relief from Stay [Docket Number 68] to permit him to return to the Domestic Relations Court and pursue a final adjudication of the appropriate calculation of the QDRO and potential overpayment to the Debtor.”
“Therefore, Creditor has established sufficient ‘cause’ to be entitled to relief from the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(1). Accordingly, the Motion is GRANTED.”
“For the reasons stated above, Ms. Preston’s Motion is granted to the extent set forth in this opinion. Specifically, this Court finds that Creditor 2900 Colerain Ave OZ LLC willfully violated the automatic stay by virtue of Mr. Geleszinski’s January and February 2026 text messages to Ms. Preston; however, no compensable damages were proven.”
“For these reasons, Mr. Moellmer’s Motion to Dismiss [Docket Number 7] is granted, without prejudice to Ms. Shockley’s filing a motion for contempt in her bankruptcy case.”
“Wherefore, the Motion to Compel [Docket Number 23] is GRANTED. To the extent the Trustee wishes to pursue Counts One and Two of the complaint, he must do so through arbitration as required by the Engagement Agreement and Supplemental Agreement.”
“Because the Debtor’s daughter was not the named beneficiary of the Gerber life insurance policy at the time of the bankruptcy filing, the Trustee’s objection to the Debtor’s exemption is SUSTAINED.”
“For the reasons set forth, the Motion [Docket Number 10] is GRANTED. The Plaintiffs’ adversary complaint is dismissed as to Defendant Pamela Hogeback.”
“As such, this Court concludes that the amended complaint moots the pending motion to dismiss. Wherefore, the Motion [Docket Number 5] is DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Five sampled matters were recorded as terminated. The pending adversary proceeding supplied two grounded motion outcomes.
Draft for Judge Buchanan with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Buchanan, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Buchanan's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace