Berle M. Schiller
Judge Schiller no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Schiller decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Grants a defendant's summary judgment in full where no genuine dispute of material fact remains, and grants it in part where some claims survive to a jury on credibility grounds.
“Defendants' motion (Document No. 21) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as follows: 1. Defendants Amoroso and Keddie's motion is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment, assault and battery, and outrageous conduct ... claims. ... 2. Defendant Keddie's motion is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's malicious prosecution-based Section 1983 claim ... 3. In all other respects, Defendants' motion is DENIED.”
Dismisses section 1983 claims against immune defendants — on sovereign, prosecutorial, and judicial immunity grounds — with prejudice.
“Defendant Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Motion to Dismiss (Document No. 13) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims against the Commonwealth are dismissed with prejudice.”
Procedural preferences
On motions to dismiss civil-rights claims, grants dismissal in part while allowing leave to file an amended complaint to cure the dismissed claims.
“the Motion to Dismiss (ECF 44) is: 1. GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs' supervisory liability claim as to Defendant Sergeant Mander and Count II is DISMISSED as to Mander only; 2. GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs' municipal liability claim; their claim against the County in Count III is DISMISSED; and 3. DENIED in all other respects. ... Plaintiffs may file a Second Amended Complaint amending their dismissed claims”
On removed actions, grants remand to state court where the claims belong there, mooting the pending motions to dismiss.
“Plaintiff's motion (Document No. 12) is GRANTED. ... The case is REMANDED to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Motion to Dismiss (ECF 44) is: 1. GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs' supervisory liability claim as to Defendant Sergeant Mander and Count II is DISMISSED as to Mander only; 2. GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs' municipal liability claim; their claim against the County in Count III is DISMISSED; and 3. DENIED in all other respects. ... Plaintiffs may file a Second Amended Complaint amending their dismissed claims”
“Plaintiff's motion (Document No. 12) is GRANTED. ... The case is REMANDED to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County.”
“upon consideration of Defendant City of Philadelphia's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim ... it is hereby ORDERED that: 1. The motion is GRANTED. 2. Plaintiffs may file an Amended Complaint on or before Monday, April 3, 2017.”
“Defendant Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Motion to Dismiss (Document No. 13) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims against the Commonwealth are dismissed with prejudice.”
“The Public Defender Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Document No. 15) is GRANTED in part. Plaintiff's Count I and Count IV claims ... are dismissed with prejudice. Plaintiff's Count II, III, and V claims against these Defendants are remanded to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.”
“Defendant R. Seth Williams's Motion to Dismiss (Document No. 17) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims against Williams are dismissed with prejudice.”
“Defendant Judge Giovanni Campbell's Motion to Dismiss (Document No. 18) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims against Judge Campbell are dismissed with prejudice.”
“Defendants' motion (Document No. 21) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as follows: 1. Defendants Amoroso and Keddie's motion is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment, assault and battery, and outrageous conduct ... claims. ... 2. Defendant Keddie's motion is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's malicious prosecution-based Section 1983 claim ... 3. In all other respects, Defendants' motion is DENIED.”
“after consideration of Defendant The Bryn Mawr Trust Company's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF 31) ... it is hereby ORDERED that: 1. Defendant's Motion (ECF 31) is GRANTED. 2. The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case.”
“denies it in part, and allows Plaintiffs one more chance to amend the claims dismissed”
“The Court agrees, and therefore grants their motion for the reasons set forth herein”
“it is ORDERED that the motion (ECF 16) is DENIED without prejudice”
“Indictment No. 11-538-1 as to defendant Martin Padilla-Palomar is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Judge Schiller served from 2000 until his death in 2025, assuming senior status in 2012. His civil docket included Section 1983 claims, insurance disputes, employment and disability cases, False Claims Act matters, copyright litigation, habeas petitions, and criminal cases.
A historical record
Judge Schiller 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.