Harlin DeWayne Hale
How Judge Hale rules, drawn from 17 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Hale no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Hale decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A creditor seeking to except a debt from discharge must prove the required statutory elements rather than relying on a contractual breach or poor business judgment alone.
“the Plaintiff did not meet its burden of proof to establish an exception to discharge under sections 523(a)(2)(A), 523(a)(4), or 523(a)(6).”
Cautions
Repeated amendments do not cure disclosure problems when material information continues to emerge and the debtor's schedules remain unreliable at trial.
“Even after six rounds of schedules, five rounds of statements of financial affairs, and four 341 meetings, the Trustee and Lakeland were still learning new information at trial.”
Chapter 11 remains subject to dismissal when the filing seeks a litigation advantage or escape from a regulatory process rather than a purpose protected by the Bankruptcy Code.
“The Court finds that the NRA did not file the bankruptcy petition in good faith because this filing was not for a purpose intended or sanctioned by the Bankruptcy Code.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Debtor is being denied his discharge entirely under section 727(a)(4)”
“Mrs. Hernandez’s 1328(a) Certification is granted”
“her Hardship Discharge Motion is denied.”
“the objection to discharge of the Plaintiff’s claim and all other relief requested by the Plaintiff is denied.”
“no award of attorneys’ fees is appropriate.”
“the relief sought in the Complaint will be denied.”
“CHP has failed to meet its burden and the Debtors are entitled to their discharge.”
“the Plaintiff has not satisfied its burden to except its debt from discharge under sections 523(a)(2)(A) or 523(a)(6)”
“nor has the Plaintiff shown the Defendant should be denied his discharge under sections 727(a)(5) or 727(a)(7).”
“judgment will be entered in favor of the Terra Rodriguez and Richard Rodriguez.”
“judgment will be entered in favor of the Terra Rodriguez and Richard Rodriguez.”
“The Plan, which includes any and all modifications, including any modifications set forth on the record at the Final Confirmation Hearing or provided in and by this Confirmation Order, is APPROVED and CONFIRMED under Bankruptcy Code section 1129 in its entirety.”
“Objections Overruled. The following objections were overruled: • Objection of Westwood Motorcars, LLC to Confirmation of Debtor’s Amended Plan of Reorganization”
“The Plan is APPROVED and CONFIRMED under Bankruptcy Code § 1129.”
“All objections that have not been withdrawn, waived, or settled are OVERRULED on the merits.”
“the Motions to Dismiss are GRANTED and the above-captioned cases are dismissed without prejudice”
“the Examiner Motion is DENIED as moot”
“the CRO Motion is DENIED as moot.”
“The Court will enter a separate judgment denying the relief requested in the Amended Complaint.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All five sampled matters were terminated, but the archive returned no docket entries for any sampled stream.
A historical record
Judge Hale 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.