Berle M. Schiller
How Judge Schiller rules, drawn from 10 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Schiller no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Schiller
Berle M. Schiller was a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Appointed by President William J. Clinton, Judge Schiller received a commission on June 2, 2000. Judge Schiller assumed senior status on June 18, 2012 and served until death on July 22, 2025.
How Judge Schiller decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In a civil-rights suit against Amoroso and Keddie, Schiller granted summary judgment on some claims and denied it on the remaining claims.
“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.”
In a § 1983 suit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Schiller granted the Commonwealth’s dismissal motion and dismissed those claims 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
In a civil-rights suit, Schiller dismissed the supervisory-liability claim against Mander and the municipal-liability claim against the County while allowing amendment of 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”
In a removed action, Schiller granted the plaintiff’s remand motion and returned the case to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County.
“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”
“upon consideration of the Government’s Motion to Dismiss Indictment, it is hereby ORDERED that 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.
Pending matters in the official report
Judge Schiller was last listed in the Civil Justice Reform Act report as of March 31, 2024.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 0 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 2023 | 10 | 4 |
| Sep 2022 | 7 | 8 |
| Mar 2022 | 5 | 1 |
| Sep 2021 | 11 | 0 |
| Mar 2021 | 7 | 5 |
| Sep 2020 | 1 | 5 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
A historical record
Judge Schiller no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.