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Inherent Power Sanctions: Court Has Inherent Power to Impose Monetary Sanction for Violation of Vexatious Litigant Order — Due Process Satisfied by Court Warning and Warning in Order Itself

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Konarski v. City of Tucson, 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 26459, 2018 WL 4462198 (9th Cir. Sept. 18, 2018) (unpublished):

MEMORANDUM*

Frank, Gabriela, Patricia, John, and Frank E. Konarski appeal pro se from the district court's order imposing monetary sanctions in the amount of $400.00 for violating a vexatious litigant order. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion the district court's entry of monetary sanctions, Primus Auto. Fin. Servs., Inc. v. Batarse, 115 F.3d 644, 648 (9th Cir. 1997), and we affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing monetary sanctions because the record supports its conclusion that the Konarskis knowingly violated the district court's vexatious litigant order entered on March 18, 2016. See Fink v. Gomez, 239 F.3d 989, 991-92 (9th Cir. 2001) (district courts have "inherent power to levy sanctions . . . for willful disobedience of a court order" (citations and internal quotation marks omitted)). Contrary to the Konarskis' contentions, the district court did not violate due process by imposing a $400 sanction after warning the Konarskis that future violations of the district court's vexatious litigant order would subject [*3]  them to sanctions in the amount of $400 per filing, and the vexatious litigant order itself warned them that violation of the order could result in monetary sanctions. See Int'l Union, United Mine Workers of Am. v. Bagwell, 512 U.S. 821, 827 n.2, 114 S. Ct. 2552, 129 L. Ed. 2d 642 (1994) ("Direct contempts that occur in the court's presence may be immediately adjudged and sanctioned summarily[.]").

The Konarskis' challenge to the denial of their motion to hold in abeyance a ruling in this action pending resolution of their appeal in Case No. 16-15476 has been mooted by that appeal, Konarski v. City of Tucson, 716 F. App'x 609, 612 (9th Cir. Nov. 28, 2017), which affirmed the district court's vexatious litigant order.

Because we affirm, the Konarskis' request for reassignment to a new district judge on remand, set forth in their opening and reply briefs, is denied as moot.

AFFIRMED.

 

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

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New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

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