Tag Archives: Sanction

Fifth Circuit Holds Lawyer Could Be Sanctioned Under 28 U.S.C. § 1927 For “Irrelevant Lines of Questioning” in Depositions

In Vaughan v. Lewisville Independent School Dist., No. 22-40057 (5th Cir. Mar. 9, 2023), the Fifth Circuit held that a plaintiff’s lawyer who asked four deponents about subject areas far afield of the dispute could be personally monetarily sanctioned for “unreasonable” and “vexatious” multipliction of the proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 1927. “Frank Vaughan filedContinue reading “Fifth Circuit Holds Lawyer Could Be Sanctioned Under 28 U.S.C. § 1927 For “Irrelevant Lines of Questioning” in Depositions”

Class Counsel Incurs Seventh Circuit Criticism for Calling Objector’s Counsel A “Notorious Professional Objector” in a Brief

In Petri v. Stericycle, Inc. No. 20-2055 (7th Cir. May 19, 2022), the Seventh Circuit vacates and remands a 25% class-action fee award in a securities case, ordering reconsideration of evidence that lead class counsel benefitted from prior litigation and other factors, and—in a parting shot—criticizes lead counsel for going after the objector’s lawyer individuallyContinue reading “Class Counsel Incurs Seventh Circuit Criticism for Calling Objector’s Counsel A “Notorious Professional Objector” in a Brief”

Ninth Circuit Affirms Issuance of Arrest Warrant for Defendant Under Recalcitrant Witness Statute Who Failed to Respond to Paper Discovery

In Invesco High Yield Fund v. Jecklin, No. 21-15809 (9th Cir. Aug. 25, 2021), the Ninth Circuit affirms contempt sanctions against a foreign defendant under 28 U.S.C. § 1826(a), the federal recalcitrant witness statute. The statute provides that when a witness refuses to testify or provide other information, the court “may summarily order his confinementContinue reading “Ninth Circuit Affirms Issuance of Arrest Warrant for Defendant Under Recalcitrant Witness Statute Who Failed to Respond to Paper Discovery”

Third Circuit Sanctions Lawyer for Bad Cut-and-Paste Job

In Conboy v. United States Small Business Admin., No. 20-1726 (3d Cir. Mar. 19, 2021), the Third Circuit issues a Fed. R. App. P. 38 sanction against a lawyer whose appellate brief “was essentially a copy of the one he filed in the District Court.” To underscore the point, the panel attaches a red-lined copyContinue reading “Third Circuit Sanctions Lawyer for Bad Cut-and-Paste Job”

Second Circuit Reminds Courts That They Have Inherent Authority to Sanction Litigant for a Single Misrepresentation, Even If the Court Was Not Misled

In Int’l Techs. Mktg., Inc. v. Verint Sys., Ltd., No. 19-1031 (2d Cir. Mar. 16, 2021), the Second Circuit vacates and remands an order denying sanctions, reiterating that “a court need not wait until it is defrauded before it may impose monetary sanctions on a party who knowingly prosecutes a frivolous claim in bad faith.”Continue reading “Second Circuit Reminds Courts That They Have Inherent Authority to Sanction Litigant for a Single Misrepresentation, Even If the Court Was Not Misled”

Fifth Circuit Lacks Appellate Jurisdiction Over Appeal of $125,000 Attorneys’ Fee Sanction Because the Notice of Appeal Failed to Name the Lawyer Who Was Taking the Appeal

The biggest USA pop record of 2012, “Thrift Shop” by hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, spawned litigation for copyright infringement by New Orleans-based musician Paul Batiste. In Batiste v. Lewis, No. 19-30400 (5th Cir. Sept. 22, 2020), the panel affirms summary judgment in favor of defendants. Adding insult to injury, the panel holdsContinue reading “Fifth Circuit Lacks Appellate Jurisdiction Over Appeal of $125,000 Attorneys’ Fee Sanction Because the Notice of Appeal Failed to Name the Lawyer Who Was Taking the Appeal”

“Inherent Power” Sanction Against Second Failed TRO Motion Upheld by Split Eighth Circuit Panel

An internecine battle for control of the Eagle Forum – Schlafly  v.  Eagle Forum, No.  19-2174 (8th Cir. July 30, 2020) – leads to a $9,851.25 attorney’s fees sanction under the district court’s “inherent power,” an award affirmed by a divided Eighth Circuit panel.    Plaintiff Andrew L. Schlafly, son of Eagle Forum founder PhyllisContinue reading ““Inherent Power” Sanction Against Second Failed TRO Motion Upheld by Split Eighth Circuit Panel”