Arthur N. Votolato

How Judge Votolato rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Votolato no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island
Position
bankruptcy
Status
No longer serving
Signed orders read
20

How Judge Votolato decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

The court treated structured mortgage-loss mitigation as a case-management process that created an opportunity for negotiation without predetermining substantive rights.

“The Loss Mitigation Program is intended to start a dialogue, giving the parties nothing more than the opportunity to discuss their respective positions.”

Procedural preferences

In a repeat-filing case, statutory termination of the stay did not extend to property that remained in the bankruptcy estate.

“termination of the automatic stay under Section 362(c)(3)(A) applies only to the debtor or *17 the debtor’s property, and not to property of the estate.”

Cautions

Repeated efforts to reopen a fully resolved dispute required exceptional circumstances and were constrained by finality and preclusion principles.

“If the principles of finality, res judicata, and estoppel ever needed to be applied, this litigation is it.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

In re Lawton
· 2011-01-28
Objection to loss mitigation (Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC) Denied

“the objection of Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC as Servicer of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Trustee [Doc. No. 16] to the Debtors’ Request for Loss Mitigation [Doc. No. 12] is OVERRULED.”

In re Sosa
· 2011-01-28
Objection to loss mitigation (PHH Mortgage Corporation) Denied

“PHH’s Objection to participating in this Court’s loss mitigation program is OVERRULED.”

In re IDC Clambakes, Inc.
· 2010-06-09
Request for finding of trespass (Condominium associations) Granted in part

“the Associations’ request for a finding of trespass against Clambakes is GRANTED IN PART, i e., for the period April 8, 2005 to November 5, 2005”

Claim for reimbursement of plumbing expenses (Condominium associations) Granted

“the Associations’ claim for reimbursement for plumbing expenses is ALLOWED as filed.”

Claim for seven year trespass damages (Condominium associations) Denied

“The Associations’ claim for as much as $3.5 million for a seven year trespass period, is DISALLOWED”

In re Teolis
· 2009-10-26
Motion to dismiss chapter 12 case (Meshanticut Valley Real Estate, Inc.) Denied

“Meshanticut’s and the Trustee’s Motions to Dismiss should be, and hereby are DENIED.”

Motion to dismiss chapter 12 case (Chapter 13 Trustee) Denied
Saunders Real Estate Corp. v. Pearlman (In re Pearlman)
· 2009-09-16
Complaint to deny discharge (Saunders Real Estate Corporation) Granted

“Saunders’ Objection to the Debtor’s discharge in this case should be, and hereby is SUSTAINED.”

In re Visnicky
· 2009-02-19
Request for approval of reaffirmation agreement (Debtor) Denied

“the Debtor has failed to rebut the presumption of undue hardship, and will not approve this Reaffirmation Agreement.”

Request for stay pending appeal (Debtor) Granted

“Because of the high volume of litigation concerning these same issues, and the need for controlling appellate *65 guidance on the subject, that request is GRANTED.”

Motion to confirm termination of automatic stay (Ford Motor Credit Company) Granted

“Ford’s motion to confirm the termination of the automatic stay is GRANTED.”

Request for authority to repossess and dispose of vehicle (Ford Motor Credit Company) Denied

“The balance of the relief sought by Ford, i.e., requesting authority to repossess and dispose of the vehicle, is DENIED”

In re Burbank
· 2009-02-24
Objection to chapter 13 plan confirmation (Chapter 13 Trustee) Denied

“the Trustee’s objection to confirmation is OVERRULED”

In re Medaglia
· 2009-04-01
Motion for relief from stay to record deed and take possession (Robert Buonano) Granted

“Based on the foregoing discussion, the authorities cited, and the arguments of the parties, Relief From Stay is GRANTED.”

Wallick v. Thunberg (In re Thunberg)
· 2009-08-28
Complaint to revoke discharge (Chapter 7 Trustee) Granted

“Therefore, the Debtor’s discharge is REVOKED.”

Webster Bank National Ass'n v. Robichaud (In re Robichaud)
· 2008-09-12
Complaint to deny discharge (Webster Bank National Association) Granted

“Webster Bank’s Complaint Objecting to Discharge is GRANTED.”

In re California Webbing Industries, Inc.
· 2007-07-05
Motion to establish professional fee carve out (Debtor) Denied

“the Debtor’s Carve Out Motion is DENIED.”

Professional fee applications (Chapter 11 professionals) Moot / procedural

“their applications (Doc. Nos 454, 456, 459, 462, 465, 592, and 600) are DENIED as MOOT.”

In re Perfetto
· 2007-01-19
Objection to order requiring means test form (Debtor) Denied

“the Debtor’s objection to the Court’s Order that she must file the Form B22A upon conversion of her case from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 is OVERRULED.”

A historical record

Judge Votolato 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.