Diane Finkle

How Judge Finkle rules, drawn from 16 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Finkle 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
Retired 2025
Served
2012–2025
Appointed by
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Commissioned
2012-09-06
Education
University of Rhode Island, B.A.; George Washington University National Law Center, J.D., 1981
Signed orders read
16

How Judge Finkle decides

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

What persuades

A default does not excuse the moving party from pleading a legally sufficient claim.

“While entry of default precludes Mr. Fundakowski from contesting the well-plead facts of the Amended Complaint, it does not establish the legal sufficiency of the Plaintiffs’ claims.”

Procedural preferences

A confirmed plan cannot be reopened merely to correct a party's earlier neglect or inadvertence.

“The binding effect of the Plan should not be disregarded simply to accommodate neglect or inadvertence by a party or its attorney.”

Cautions

Complete and candid disclosure is essential to bankruptcy administration.

“In bankruptcy administration, the system will collapse if debtors are not forthcoming.”

Signed rulings

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

Fratantuono v. Fundakowski
· 2016-09-12
Default judgment (Kenneth and Sharon Fratantuono) Granted in part

“For these reasons, the Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, and judgment shall enter in favor of the Plaintiffs on Count I of the Amended Complaint.”

In re Rougier
· 2016-09-16
Objection to plan confirmation (Pawtucket Credit Union) Denied

“The Objection is OVERRULED and the Plan is CONFIRMED.”

Motion to modify secured claim (Sharon Rougier) Granted

“The Court holds that the allowable amount of PCU’s secured first mortgage claim is $186,195.49, and its second mortgage is wholly unsecured and can be stripped off under the Plan.”

In re Derocha
· 2014-01-14
Motion to avoid judicial lien (Michael J. Derocha) Granted

“The Debtor’s Motions to avoid the judicial liens of Anesthesiologist, Inc. (Doc. #20), Citibank (Doc. #22), and Discover Bank (Doc. # 24) are GRANTED.”

Motion to avoid judicial lien (Michael J. Derocha) Granted
Motion to avoid judicial lien (Michael J. Derocha) Granted
Sauer Inc. v. Lawson
· 2014-02-03
Motions to dismiss (Carrie D. Lawson) Granted

“The Debtor’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED.”

Boudreau v. Rhode Island Division of Taxation
· 2017-01-24
Motions to dismiss (Rhode Island Division of Taxation) Granted in part

“Accordingly, the Motion is GRANTED IN PART as to the tax years 2004-2009 and 2011 for which no state taxes are due; GRANTED IN PART as to the underlying state tax liability and interest for the tax year ending December 31, 2010; and DENIED IN PART as to the tax penalty assessed for the 2010 underlying state tax liability.”

DiOrio v. Griffin
· 2016-01-25
Motion to vacate default (Linda K. Davis Griffin and Shirley Davis) Granted

“The, Motion to Vacate Default is GRANTED as to both Defendants.”

In re Carpenter
· 2016-10-27
Objection to claim of exemptions (Citizens Bank, N.A.) Denied

“The Objection of Citizens Bank is OVERRULED, the Motion is GRANTED, and the lien of Citizens Bank is avoided in its entirety.”

Motion to avoid judicial lien (Richard F. Carpenter) Granted
In re Murphy
· 2013-03-06
Motion to modify confirmed plan (Debtors) Denied

“The Debtors’ Motion to Modify is DENIED, and the Trustee’s Motion to Modify is GRANTED.”

Motion to modify confirmed plan (Chapter 13 Trustee) Granted
In re Bouchard
· 2016-12-05
Motion to convert or dismiss case (Amanda Rotella) Granted in part

“Ms. Rotella’s Motion is GRANTED IN PART, and the case is DISMISSED.”

Chapter 13 plan confirmation (Andrew Bouchard) Moot / procedural

“Such dismissal renders Mr. Bouchard’s Second Amended Chapter 13 Plan MOOT.”

In re Cobb
· 2013-01-24
Objection to plan confirmation (Chapter 13 Trustee) Denied

“The Trustee’s Objection is overruled, and the Plan may be confirmed.”

In re Lanois
· 2014-09-10
Objection to plan confirmation (Bank of America, N.A.) Denied

“The treatment of BOA’s secured claim under the Plan is permissible and BOA’s objection to the Plan is OVERRULED.”

In re Corse
· 2013-01-18
Motion to sell estate property (Chapter 7 Trustee) Granted

“The Objection is OVERRULED and the Sale Motion is GRANTED.”

Objection to sale (Josephine Corse, Brenda Corse-Moretti, and Linda Jackson) Denied

A historical record

Judge Finkle 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.