Complex Lit Blog

Rule 11 — Suspension from Practice = “Nonmonetary” Sanction within 11(c)(4) — Bankruptcy Court Can Suspend — “Typical Federal Court Disposes of Hundreds of Cases Each Year—A Bankruptcy Court Disposes of Thousands” — Honesty Essential

In re Young (Young v Young), 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10158 (8th Cir. June 17, 2015): The bankruptcy court sanctioned attorney Kathy Cruz under Rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure during her representation of a client, Jonathan Young. Cruz appeals the imposition of sanctions. For the reasons stated belo ...

In re Young (Young v Young), 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10158 (8th Cir. June 17, 2015): The bankruptcy court sanctioned attorney Kathy Cruz under Rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure during her representation of a client, Jonathan …

Sanctions — Sloppy Argument and Overstatement ≠ Misrepresentation or Litigation Misconduct Punishable under Rule 11 and Form No Basis for Finding Patent Case Not Exceptional within 35 U.S.C. § 285

Gaymar Indus., Inc. v. Cincinnati Sub-Zero Prods., Inc., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10736 (Fed. Cir. June 25, 2015): Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products, Inc. ("CSZ"), the prevailing party in this patent infringement case, appeals the district court's denial of attorney's fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285. In holding that this was not ...

Linked In Admissibility — Hearsay — Defendant’s Self-Description of Title on Own LinkedIn Page when Offered by Plaintiff Admitted Insofar As It Reflects Defendant’s Description of Role But Not for Truth That Defendant Actually Held Position

Music Grp. Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd. v. Foote, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81415 (N.D. Cal. June 22, 2015): This case arises out of a cyber attack on the global computer network and communication systems of Plaintiff Music Group Macao Commercial Offshore Limited ("Music Group" or "Plaintiff"). Plaintiff asse ...

Music Grp. Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd. v. Foote, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81415 (N.D. Cal. June 22, 2015): This case arises out of a cyber attack on the global computer network and communication systems of Plaintiff Music Group Macao Commercial …

Rule 11 & Ethical Precepts — Rhode Island Bars Anonymous Ghostwriting of Pleadings But Permits Representation Limited to Disclosed Assistance with Express Statement That Lawyer Is Not Appearing in the Action

FIA Card Servs., N.A. v. Pichette, 2015 R.I. LEXIS 79 (RI S.Ct. June 8, 2015): The appeals before us emanate from the activities of three attorneys who authored pleadings, but did not disclose their respective identities, on behalf of pro se defendants in three separate debt collection cases, a practice colloquially known as g ...

FIA Card Servs., N.A. v. Pichette, 2015 R.I. LEXIS 79 (RI S.Ct. June 8, 2015): The appeals before us emanate from the activities of three attorneys who authored pleadings, but did not disclose their respective identities, on behalf of pro …

Spoliation Sanctions — Three-Part Test for Adverse Inference Instruction in Tenth Circuit: Duty to Preserve, Prejudice, Bad Faith (Electronic Records Lost, Tangible Records Destroyed)

McCauley v. Board of Comm’rs for Bernalillo Cnty., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 3361 (10th Cir. Mar. 2, 2015): John R. McCauley appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment to the Board of Commissioners of Bernalillo County (Bernalillo County or County) on his employment discrimination and retaliation claims. McCauley, ...

McCauley v. Board of Comm’rs for Bernalillo Cnty., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 3361 (10th Cir. Mar. 2, 2015): John R. McCauley appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment to the Board of Commissioners of Bernalillo County (Bernalillo County or …

RICO Continuity — Mail Fraud Can Be Predicate But Mailings Don’t Create Continuity unless They’re False — At Least 1 Year Needed for Closed-End Continuity in 8th Circuit — Good Quotes on RICO Not Apt for Ordinary Commerical Fraud

Stonebridge Collection, Inc. v. Carmichael, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10840 (8th Cir. June 26, 2015): The Stonebridge Collection, Inc., an engraver of promotional pocket knives, sued (1) former distributor Cutting-Edge USA, LLC and its members, Keith and Glenna Carmichael; (2) competitor knife engraver Taylormade Unlimited, LLC (TaylorMade ...

Sanctions: Court May Dismiss with Prejudice Even after Voluntarily Dismissal without Prejudice under Rule 41 — Mortgage with Bank ≠ Grounds to Recuse — Judges Not Obliged to Make Greater Financial Disclosure Than Statute Requires

Zow v. Regions Fin’l Corp., 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 23321 (11th Cir. Dec. 11, 2014): James Allen Zow, Sr. and Veronica Zow appeal the dismissal of their case with prejudice as a sanction for being in contempt of a discovery order. They argue that dismissal with prejudice was an inappropriate sanction because they had already voluntaril ...

Sanctions — Supreme Court Indicates Bankruptcy Courts May Be Empowered to Issue Inherent Power Sanctions — No Question That They May Sanction under § 1927

Dahiya v. Kramer (In re Khan), 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 1792 (2d Cir. Feb. 5, 2015): Dahiya argues as a threshold matter that the bankruptcy court lacked the authority to sanction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1927 and its inherent authority to sanction. We need not reach the issue of whether bankruptcy courts possess the inherent authority to ...

Rule 11 Sanctions — Pre-Dismissal Letter Is Insufficient to Satisfy Safe Harbor and Post-Dismissal Motion Is Untimely

Penn, LLC, et al. v. Prosper Bus. Dev. Corp., 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 23368 (6th Cir. Dec. 12, 2014): In this dispute over the management of a joint venture, Defendants-Appellants James E. Arnold & Associates and the firm's eponymous partner (together the "Arnold Firm") challenge the district court's denial of their mot ...

Texts Authenticated by Recipient’s Testimony, Messages That Included Photo of Sender, ID’ed a Person Both Knew & by Evidence Phone Was Used to Contact Others Who Knew Sender and That Address for Phone Was a Former Address of Sender’s

Jackson v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 6126 (Tex. App. June 17, 2015): II. MOTION TO SUPPRESS In his first issue, Jackson contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion to suppress certain cell phone records and in "thereafter allow[ing] unauthenticated eviden ...

Jackson v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 6126 (Tex. App. June 17, 2015): II. MOTION TO SUPPRESS In his first issue, Jackson contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion to suppress certain cell phone records and …

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Rule 11 — Suspension from Practice = “Nonmonetary” Sanction within 11(c)(4) — Bankruptcy Court Can Suspend — “Typical Federal Court Disposes of Hundreds of Cases Each Year—A Bankruptcy Court Disposes of Thousands” — Honesty Essential

Sanctions — Sloppy Argument and Overstatement ≠ Misrepresentation or Litigation Misconduct Punishable under Rule 11 and Form No Basis for Finding Patent Case Not Exceptional within 35 U.S.C. § 285

Linked In Admissibility — Hearsay — Defendant’s Self-Description of Title on Own LinkedIn Page when Offered by Plaintiff Admitted Insofar As It Reflects Defendant’s Description of Role But Not for Truth That Defendant Actually Held Position

Rule 11 & Ethical Precepts — Rhode Island Bars Anonymous Ghostwriting of Pleadings But Permits Representation Limited to Disclosed Assistance with Express Statement That Lawyer Is Not Appearing in the Action

Spoliation Sanctions — Three-Part Test for Adverse Inference Instruction in Tenth Circuit: Duty to Preserve, Prejudice, Bad Faith (Electronic Records Lost, Tangible Records Destroyed)

RICO Continuity — Mail Fraud Can Be Predicate But Mailings Don’t Create Continuity unless They’re False — At Least 1 Year Needed for Closed-End Continuity in 8th Circuit — Good Quotes on RICO Not Apt for Ordinary Commerical Fraud

Sanctions: Court May Dismiss with Prejudice Even after Voluntarily Dismissal without Prejudice under Rule 41 — Mortgage with Bank ≠ Grounds to Recuse — Judges Not Obliged to Make Greater Financial Disclosure Than Statute Requires

Sanctions — Supreme Court Indicates Bankruptcy Courts May Be Empowered to Issue Inherent Power Sanctions — No Question That They May Sanction under § 1927

Rule 11 Sanctions — Pre-Dismissal Letter Is Insufficient to Satisfy Safe Harbor and Post-Dismissal Motion Is Untimely

Texts Authenticated by Recipient’s Testimony, Messages That Included Photo of Sender, ID’ed a Person Both Knew & by Evidence Phone Was Used to Contact Others Who Knew Sender and That Address for Phone Was a Former Address of Sender’s

Recent Posts

RICO Pleading: Generic Allegations of Fraud (Failing Even to Set Forth Any False Representation) And Extortion (Failing to Describe Actual Threats) Too Conclusory to State a Claim

RICO Pleading: Statutory Directive That RICO Be Liberally Construed Does Not Extend to More Liberal Pleading Requirements

FRAP 38 Sanctions Imposed Due to the “Striking Legal Emptiness” of Brief/Appeal, “A Legal Nothingburger” — Bad Faith Not Required: An Appeal “May Also Be Frivolous If It Is Filed Out Of Sheer Obstinacy” (Good Quotes)

RICO: Hobbs Act does not apply when the alleged extortion is meant to benefit the state

RICO: Indirect Injury Unrecoverable — Indirect Purchaser Rule Imported from Antitrust

RICO: No Causation Where Harm Flowed Several Steps After the Fraudulent Acts — RICO Causation Same As Antitrust Causation

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