Bruce I. Fox
How Judge Fox rules, drawn from 30 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Fox no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Fox decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Additional reorganization time was refused after three failed plans over more than a year left no viable route to confirmation.
“the debtors have been unable to meet the statutory confirmation requirements of section 1325(a) despite three attempts over more than one year”
Procedural preferences
Remand was favored when one state forum could promptly resolve the full set of state-law claims, counterclaims, and cross-claims.
“this adversary proceeding should be remanded so that the state court can resolve promptly the merits of all of the Pennsylvania law claims, counterclaims and cross-claims”
Cautions
A creditor lost a third deadline-extension request after knowing of a potential claim but failing to investigate it before the discharge-objection deadline.
“Diamond Tool elected not to investigate this claim, learning its status only by the unsolicited communication from another creditor”
A late exemption amendment was disallowed after the trustee had relied on the earlier election and incurred substantial sale-related effort and expense.
“in light of the trustee’s actions and the debtor’s delay, it would be inequitable to permit the debtor to change her mind and now utilize state law to exempt her property”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“On balance, I conclude that the better exercise of discretion is to dismiss this case under section 1307(c).”
“order will also dismiss the two motions for relief from the bankruptcy stay as moot.”
“Accordingly, an order will be entered dismissing this chapter 11 case.”
“I will deny Diamond Tool’s and 421 Chestnut Partners’ third motion for an extension of the deadline to object to discharge.”
“I will also grant the debtor’s motion to dismiss the remaining count of the pending adversary proceeding.”
“Accordingly, an order will be entered denying confirmation of the debtor’s proposed second modified chapter 13 plan. She will be given leave to file an amended plan by a date certain.”
“Accordingly, I will enter an order approving the trustee’s agreement with Jennings, resulting in a voluntary reduction in the fee application”
“this adversary proceeding should be remanded so that the state court can resolve promptly the merits of all of the Pennsylvania law claims, counterclaims and cross-claims.”
“As this creditor’s lien has been extinguished by virtue of section 1141(c), an amendment to reclassify its claim as secured would now be futile. Accordingly, its motion for leave to amend will be denied.”
“the entry of a final decree is premature, and so will be denied without prejudice.”
“To now reopen a bankruptcy case that was closed in 1995, in order for Mr. Ullman to relitigate these issues would be futile and serve no valid purpose. Therefore, by accompanying order, the motion to reopen will be denied.”
“For reasons that follow, the instant motion shall be denied.”
After a multi-day trial, the casino failed to prove nondischargeability, while its litigation position was sufficiently justified to defeat fee shifting.
“An appropriate order shall be entered denying his motion to reconsider, vacate or amend the June 12th order.”
“the debtor is not entitled to any relief in this proceeding and the defendants’ instant motion to dismiss must be granted.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All five sampled matters were terminated. Their unusually long durations reflect a fixed sample drawn from the oldest electronically indexed cases and should not be treated as representative of the judge's full docket.
A historical record
Judge Fox 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.