John C. Melaragno
How Judge Melaragno rules, drawn from 2 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Melaragno
John C. Melaragno joined the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in June 2023. He serves from chambers in Erie and Pittsburgh.
Judge Melaragno's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Melaragno, 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.
Key rules
Filing
Attach a proposed order stating the specific relief requested to every pleading seeking relief.
“All pleadings requesting relief must include, as a separate attachment, a proposed order which details the specific relief to be granted.”
Filing
Obtain permission before filing a brief longer than 20 pages.
“Unless Court permission is received, upon proper motion prior to filing, no brief by any Party shall be in excess of twenty (20) pages.”
Motions
Before a curable Rule 12(b) dismissal motion in an adversary proceeding, request a meet and confer about amendment.
“before any such motion is filed the moving party must first request to meet and confer with the respondent to try to reach an understanding regarding an amendment that can avoid the need for a motion.”
Motions
Do not file a reply or surreply without leave except for summary-judgment motions.
“Judge Melaragno generally does not allow replies or surreplies in his motion practice. The only exceptions are for motions for summary judgment”
Conferences
Move to continue, reschedule, or cancel a hearing with a proposed order at least three full business days before it.
“Hearings will not be continued, rescheduled, or cancelled, even if the matter has been settled, unless an appropriate motion and proposed order have been electronically filed with the Clerk's Office at least three (3) full business days before the scheduled hearing date.”
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 Melaragno decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
At the pleading stage, well-pleaded facts receive favorable inferences while public records and prior court filings remain available for judicial notice.
“the Court must accept all well-pleaded facts as true and draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Motion to Dismiss (‘Motion’) (Doc. 8) is GRANTED.”
“Defendants’ request for payment of attorney’s fees in the Motion is DENIED.”
“The request to amend the Complaint in the Supplement to Response to Motion to Dismiss and/or Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint to Revoke Confirmation Order (Doc 15) is DENIED.”
“the Motion of Crivella Holdings, Limited for Relief from the Automatic Stay or, in the Alternative, for Adequate Protection Pursuant to Section 263(D) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (‘Motion for Relief from Stay’) (Doc. 124) is DENIED”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
One sampled small-business case terminated after 473 days; the two individual Chapter 13 matters remained pending in the reviewed record.
Draft for Judge Melaragno with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Melaragno, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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