Ronald B. King
How Judge King rules, drawn from 11 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge King
Ronald B. King is a recalled United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas. After regular service from 1988 to 2021, he continues to preside over selected cases in the San Antonio and Waco divisions.
Judge King's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge King, 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
Conferences
Request a telephonic hearing in CM/ECF at least two business days before the hearing, identifying the client and reason.
“counsel must docket in CM/ECF a Request for Telephonic or Zoom Appearance at least 2 business days before the hearing. In the request, counsel must state who they represent and the reason for the request.”
Conferences
Do not use a cellular or speaker phone for a teleconference.
“Parties may not use a cellular or speaker phone when participating in the teleconference.”
Trial
Be available 30 minutes early; witnesses may not be examined by teleconference.
“Parties must be available 30 minutes prior to the hearing. Examination of witnesses is not permitted via teleconference.”
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 King decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
When state law gave a tax-sale purchaser title and left the debtor only a personal redemption right, the purchaser was treated as an owner rather than a secured claimant whose rights could be modified through a Chapter 13 plan.
“Therefore, the Debtor cannot modify W7’s rights in the chapter 13 plan because W7 is the owner of the Property, not a lien holder.”
Procedural preferences
For a statutory deadline that does not specify how time is calculated, the court applied the bankruptcy time-computation rule and extended a weekend deadline to the next business day.
“Where a section of the Bankruptcy Code specifies a period of time but not a method of calculating time, Rule 9006(a) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure provides a calculation method”
Cautions
An expert analysis may fail to carry the burden when it does not examine the underlying claims, supporting documentation, medical necessity, or responses to requests for more information.
“He did not review whether the lab tests were medically necessary or whether proper documentation was provided with a claim.”
A proposed settlement may fail when its proponent offers general conclusions but no evidence explaining why the settlement amount reasonably reflects the claim's value and likely recovery.
“the trustee presents no evidence as to how or why $105,000 is a reasonable number for settlement.”
A willful stay violation did not support punitive damages where the conduct resulted from mistake and inadequate training rather than vindictive, malicious, abusive, or bad-faith behavior.
“Based on the evidence, the Court finds that RAC’s employees’ actions were not vindictive, malicious, abusive, or accompanied by bad faith.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Trustee’s requested relief will be denied and the proofs of claim filed by United will be allowed.”
“W7’s Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay Against Real Property will be granted under § 362(d)(1) for cause and under § 362(d)(2) for lack of equity.”
“Because Ovation’s claim is secured by a statutory lien, but not by a separate and enforceable security interest, the Court finds that Rule 3002.1 does not apply. The Trustee’s objection will be overruled.”
“The amendment also cannot be retroactively applied to the Reorganized Debtors for any relevant year. Accordingly, the Reorganized Debtors’ motion will be granted.”
“Accordingly, the Court will deny approval of the Proposed Settlement.”
“The Debtor’s objection to Claim No. 3 of ‘Brenda Pescini by Moorpark Recovery Services LLC’ will be OVERRULED for the reasons discussed in this Opinion.”
“The Debtor’s objection to Claim No. 2 of Moorpark will be SUSTAINED because it is a duplicate of Claim No. 3.”
“For these reasons, the Court has granted MSHA’s motion to allow an administrative expense for the post-petition penalties under § 503(b)(1)(A).”
“Accordingly, Defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be granted on this ground.”
“The Trustee’s motion for summary judgment will be denied.”
“GIG’s request for a declaratory judgment has been DENIED, as has been GIG’s motion for summary judgment.”
“Conversely, TABC’s motion for summary judgment has been GRANTED by separate order.”
“Accordingly, the Court awards Gates actual damages of $110.00”
“As such, an award of punitive damages is not appropriate in this case.”
“the Court finds no basis to award additional contempt sanctions against RAC for its conduct in violation of the automatic stay.”
“Gates’s counsel will be awarded reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees and costs.”
“Because an alter ego finding would be inconsistent with the partial summary judgment, it will not be granted.”
“Because the Trustee is entitled to only one satisfaction, the Court declines to award breach of contract relief.”
“The fraud claim will be denied.”
“Relief will be denied under Counts 10 and 11.”
“the Trustee is entitled to equitable subordination, with two significant caveats.”
“The Court finds that the lien should be avoided under § 544(b)(1).”
“Relief under Counts 14 through 18 will be denied.”
“The Trustee is entitled to judgment on four of the five fraudulent-transfer theories.”
“Relief under § 547 will be denied, although the same relief will be awarded under a fraudulent-transfer theory as discussed above.”
“The Court finds that the Trustee can recover any transfer avoided under §§ 544 and 548.”
“Accordingly, its claim should be disallowed in full.”
“The Court will grant relief under section 549 in the amount of $62,843,28, the amount of the unauthorized transfer.”
“This is an alternative remedy to both, and relief under Count 28 will be denied.”
“The Trustee is entitled to reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees for bringing this action under Texas Business and Commerce Code § 24.013 and Rule 7054 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
One sampled adversary proceeding was terminated and one remained pending. The terminated matter supplied three express motion outcomes.
Draft for Judge King with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge King, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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