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§ 1927 Sanctions Not Precluded but Generally Inappropriate for Discovery Abuse Subject to Rule 37

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From New England Surfaces v. E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., , 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43530 (D. Me. June 3, 2008):

Unlike the inherent power, the Supreme Court and the First Circuit have not instructed that § 1927 can only be used when the Rules do not cover the conduct. Thus, the failure to invoke the Rules when they are available does not wholly preclude consideration of § 1927 sanctions. See Northwest Bypass Group v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, F. Supp. 2d , 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33202, 2008 WL 1843889, at *5 (D.N.H. Apr. 22, 2008) (Woodcock, J.). But given the specificity of the Rules along with their embedded policy concerns (of which fairness and notice are two), such a failure surely must inform exercise of the court's discretion 11 under § 1927.

Citing, inter alia, Gregory P. Joseph, Sanctions: The Federal Law of Litigation Abuse § 23(B)(3)(a) (4th ed. 2008) ("Section 1927 is generally considered an inappropriate tool for remedying discovery abuse that is subject to sanction under Rule 26(g) or Rule 37.").

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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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