Ronald G. Pearson

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

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

Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Position
bankruptcy
Status
Retired 2015
Served
1985–2015
Commissioned
1985-01-01
Education
West Virginia University, B.S., industrial engineering; West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., 1968
Signed orders read
20

How Judge Pearson decides

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

What persuades

In the mortgage-underwriting dispute, documented calculations, regulatory compliance, and the absence of contrary expert evidence supported summary judgment.

“The Plaintiff has not produced an expert to testify that the underwriting of Plaintiffs loan was inconsistent with industry standards or inconsistent with Federal guidelines.”

In the credit-card discharge dispute, ordinary household purchases and credible expectations of renewed employment weighed against fraudulent intent.

“a majority of the purchases were small in size and apparently for necessities.”

Procedural preferences

An unopposed summary-judgment motion still had to establish entitlement to judgment on its evidence.

“The failure of a non-moving party to oppose a motion for summary judgment does not automatically entitle the moving party to summary judgment.”

Cautions

A party seeking equitable lien priority should protect its position through an adequate title search.

“A simple title search prior to the extension of financing would have disclosed the existence of hens that far exceeded the value of the property.”

A request for injunctive relief should identify the parties and conduct to be restrained with specificity.

“A request for injunctive relief should specifically identify the parties to be enjoined and the actions to be enjoined.”

Signed rulings

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

United States v. Hall (In re Hall)
· 2014-05-30
Summary judgment (United States) Granted

“For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS the Motion for Summary Judgment.”

Moore v. Wells Fargo Bank (In re Moore)
· 2012-03-13
Summary judgment (Wells Fargo Bank) Granted

“Based on the foregoing, the Court finds summary judgment in this case is appropriate and is hereby GRANTED.”

In re Hall
· 2008-12-03
Objection to plan confirmation (Ford Motor Credit Company) Granted in part

“Ford’s objection is OVERRULED in part, and SUSTAINED in part.”

In re Carl E. Smith, Inc.
· 2006-04-10
Objection to claim (debtor) Granted

“the Debtor's Objection to the Claim of Central States of Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund for pension withdrawal liability is hereby SUSTAINED”

Equicredit Corp. v. Simms (In re Simms)
· 2003-05-30
Summary judgment (United States) Granted

“ORDERED that the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the defendant, United States of America is GRANTED”

Universal Bank, N.A. v. Machnic (In re Machnic)
· 2002-01-10
Consumer protection counterclaim (debtor) Granted

“ORDERED that judgment is entered in favor of Debtor on her Counterclaim against Universal in the amount $1,753.00 plus costs and attorney's fees in bringing this counterclaim.”

Universal Bank, N.A. v. Howard (In re Howard)
· 2002-03-05
Dischargeability complaint (Universal Bank) Denied

“ORDERED that the debt owed to Universal Bank is DISCHARGED.”

Airlines Reporting Corp. v. Ellison (In re Ellison)
· 1999-12-02
Summary judgment (Airlines Reporting Corporation) Granted

“ORDERED that the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is hereby GRANTED”

Motion to dismiss or for summary judgment (defendants) Denied

“ORDERED that defendants’ motion to dismiss and/or for summary judgment is hereby DENIED as having no basis in law or fact.”

Mills v. United States (In re Mills)
· 1999-06-23
Motion for judgment on stipulated record (United States) Moot / procedural

“ORDERED that the motions of the United States’ and the debtors for Judgment on the Stipulated Record is hereby GRANTED”

Motion for judgment on stipulated record (debtors) Granted

“ORDERED that judgment is awarded on behalf of the debtors, for reasons set forth hereinabove, and that the IRS is compelled to consider offers in compromise submitted by bankruptcy debtors”

In re Discount Printing, Inc.
· 1995-11-14
Motion for reconsideration (United States Trustee) Denied

“Accordingly, the United States Trustee’s motion to reconsider is DENIED for the reasons set forth above.”

Objection to administrative claim (Robert Goldenberg) Granted

“ORDER DENYING THE UNITED STATES TRUSTEE’S MOTION TO RECONSIDER AND SUSTAINING THE OBJECTION OF ROBERT GOLDEN-BERG”

In re Lady H Coal Co., Inc.
· 1996-02-28
Motion to reject collective bargaining agreement (debtors) Denied

“The Debtors’ motion to reject its collective bargaining agreement pursuant to the provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 1113 is denied”

Motion to sell assets (debtors) Granted

“The Debtors’ second amended motion to sell and transfer assets from their bankruptcy estates to the purchaser under the terms set forth in the offer is granted.”

Motion to sell free and clear (debtors) Granted

“The sale of assets shall be free and clear of any interest, pursuant to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code”

Request for injunctive relief (debtors) Denied

“The injunctive relief as requested by the Debtors is denied without prejudice.”

In re Zerkle Trucking Co.
· 1991-10-07
Motion to compel assumption or rejection (Paccar Financial Corporation) Denied

“ORDERED that the motion of Paccar Financial Corporation to compel Zerkle Trucking Company to assume or reject unexpired leases is denied.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

All five sampled matters were terminated after 749 to 2,209 days, with a median of 1,836 days. Every retained entry stream was empty.

A historical record

Judge Pearson 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.