Complex Lit Blog

Spoliation of Tangible Evidence: Sixth Circuit Standards – Harsh Sanctions Typically Imposed Only for Culpability Greater Than Negligence – Sanction of Summary Judgment Properly Denied for Negligent Spoliation by Hospital’s Document Storage Company Years Before Plaintiff Ever Requested His Medical Records

Frank v. Good Samaritan Hosp., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 6265 (6th Cir. Mar. 15, 2023) (unpublished): Jahmir Frank sued Good Samaritan Hospital for medical malpractice. But because Good Samaritan's contractor destroyed his medical records, Frank ...

Frank v. Good Samaritan Hosp., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 6265 (6th Cir. Mar. 15, 2023) (unpublished): Jahmir Frank sued Good Samaritan Hospital for medical malpractice. But because Good Samaritan’s contractor destroyed his medical records, Frank’s claim was arguably more difficult …

Sanctions: Vexatious Litigant Injunctions in District Court (5th Circuit Standards) — Vexatious Litigant Injunctions in Court of Appeals: Inherent Power and Statutory (All Writs Act) Authority — FRAP 38 Monetary Sanctions: Frivolousness Need Not Be Intentional, Can Be Inadvertent — RICO: Plaintiff Cannot Plead Actual Reliance on Assertion He Knew at The Time Was False; Actual Reliance Unjustifiable as A Matter of Law; Common-Law Fraud Not A Predicate Act

Nix v. Major League Baseball, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 6319, 2023 WL 2534977 (5th Cir. Mar. 16, 2023): ...

Nix v. Major League Baseball, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 6319, 2023 WL 2534977 (5th Cir. Mar. 16, 2023): *1 This appeal involves the latest in a series of unsuccessful lawsuits2 by Neiman Nix, proceeding pro se, who sued…

Supplemental vs. New Expert Report: If Report Asserts New Analysis Or Conclusions [Based on Information Available at Time of Original Report], It Is Not Supplemental within Rule 26(e)(2) — Rule 37(c)(1) and Rule 16(f) Exclusion: Four Factors (5th Circuit Test) — Sham Affidavit Doctrine Applies Only to Summary Judgment Affidavit That Contradicts Prior Deposition Testimony — Note: Court Fails to Address Rule 26(e)(1)(A) (Here, The New Opinion Was “Otherwise … Made Known to The Other Parties During The Discovery Process” Because It Was Inquired About At Deposition — See The Temptation to Depose Every Expert, 40 Litigation, No. 2 at 35 (Winter 2014)

Majestic Oil, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, 2023 WL 2549892 (5th Cir. Mar. 17, 2023) (unpublished): PER CURIAM:* Majestic Oil, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, 2023 WL 2549892 (5th Cir. Mar. 17, 2023) (unpublished): This is a first-party insurance case. Majestic Oil, Inc. asserts th ...

Majestic Oil, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, 2023 WL 2549892 (5th Cir. Mar. 17, 2023) (unpublished): PER CURIAM:* Majestic Oil, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, 2023 WL 2549892 (5th Cir. Mar. 17, 2023) (unpublished): This is a…

Recklessness Sufficient for § 1927 Sanctions in 9th Circuit (Circuit Split) — Mere Delay of 19 Days in Producing Prior Settlement Agreement Among the Parties “Unreasonably Lengthened the Proceedings” — Sound Dissent

Lozano v. Cabrera, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 5394 (9th Cir. Mar. 7, 2023) (2-1 decision; unpublished): MEMORANDUM* Plaintiff appeals the district court’s imposition of sanctions under

Lozano v. Cabrera, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 5394 (9th Cir. Mar. 7, 2023) (2-1 decision; unpublished): MEMORANDUM* Plaintiff appeals the district court’s imposition of sanctions under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 and 28 U.S.C. § 1927. Because…

While Lower Court Must Execute Mandate of Higher Court – Including Questions Expressly Or Impliedly Decided – Invalidity of Prospective Waiver of Statutory Remedies for Public Policy Reasons It May Reopen a Seemingly Foreclosed Issue Based on New Evidence, A Dramatic Change in Law or a Blatant Error in the Prior Decision That Will Result in a Serious Injustice (Here, Previously Undetected Fraud on The Court Preceding Appeal) – “Affiliated Entity” May Refer to an Individual – Does Contractual Phrase “Tribal Law” Incorporate Federal Law? – District Court’s Credibility Determinations Deserve The Highest Degree of Appellate Deference

Williams v Martorello, 59 F.4th 68 (4th Cir. 2023): This class-action proceeding relates to a lending scheme allegedly designed to circumvent state usury laws. Matt Martorello appeals from three district court rulings that (1) reconsidered prior factual findings based on a new finding that Martorello made misrepresentations that substantially impacted the litiga ...

Williams v Martorello, 59 F.4th 68 (4th Cir. 2023): This class-action proceeding relates to a lending scheme allegedly designed to circumvent state usury laws. Matt Martorello appeals from three district court rulings that (1) reconsidered prior factual findings based…

During Pendency of Appeal, District Court Retains Jurisdiction to Enforce — But Not Alter — Unstayed Orders (Here, Imposing Financial Sanction for Contempt for Discovery Misconduct)

Micula v. Gov't of Romania, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 4027 (D.C. Cir. Feb. 21, 2023) (unpublished): Per Curiam *1 This case was considered on the record from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and on the briefs of the parties. The Court has afforded the issues full consideration and has determined that they do not warrant a publishe ...

Micula v. Gov’t of Romania, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 4027 (D.C. Cir. Feb. 21, 2023) (unpublished): Per Curiam *1 This case was considered on the record from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and on the…

Can FRAP 28(j) Be Used to Inform Court of Appeals of Pertinent Factual Developments Arising During the Appeal?

Medtronic Medical CR SRL v. Fliciano-Soto, 59 F.4th 51 (1st Cir. 2023): This appeal asks us to weigh in on the propriety of the district court’s dismissal of the complaint filed below by Appellant, Medtronic Medical CR SRL (“Medtronic”). We write primarily for the parties, assuming their familiarity with the facts underlying Medtronic’s complaint, the district court’s ...

RICO § 1964(c): Where Federal and State Law Conflict, State Law Does Not Control in Determining Whether Plaintiff Suffered Injury to Business Or Property for RICO Purposes

Shulman v. Kaplan, 58 F.4th 404 (9th Cir. 2023) *407 The question presented in this case is whether Appellants, a cannabis entrepreneur and two cannabis businesses, have standing to bring claims arising pursuant to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO),

Shulman v. Kaplan, 58 F.4th 404 (9th Cir. 2023) *407 The question presented in this case is whether Appellants, a cannabis entrepreneur and two cannabis businesses, have standing to bring claims arising pursuant to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations …

Rule 11 – Unequivocal Request to Withdraw Action Without Prejudice Within 21 Days of Motion Satisfies Safe Harbor, Even If Action Not Formally Dismissed Until After 21-Day Period Has Expired – No Requirement to Agree to Dismiss With Prejudice

Thompson v. Steinberg, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 1603 (2d Cir. Jan. 23, 2023) (unpublished): Key Takeaways: We generally review a decision resolving a motion for

Thompson v. Steinberg, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 1603 (2d Cir. Jan. 23, 2023) (unpublished): Key Takeaways: We generally review a decision resolving a motion for Rule 11 sanctions for abuse discretion. …. However, within that framework, we review de novo …

Merely Not Following Through With Notice To File Rule 11 Motion Is An Insufficient Basis on Which to Conclude That The Threat Was Meritless — But It Is Some Evidence

Pocket Plus, LLC v. Pike Brands, LLC, 53 F.4th 425 (8th Cir. 2022): *1 Pocket Plus, LLC, sued Pike Brands, LLC (“Running Buddy”) for trade-dress infringement of Pocket Plus’s portable pouch. The district court1 granted summary judgment to Running Buddy and awarded it a portion of its requested attorne ...

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Recklessness Sufficient for § 1927 Sanctions in 9th Circuit (Circuit Split) — Mere Delay of 19 Days in Producing Prior Settlement Agreement Among the Parties “Unreasonably Lengthened the Proceedings” — Sound Dissent

During Pendency of Appeal, District Court Retains Jurisdiction to Enforce — But Not Alter — Unstayed Orders (Here, Imposing Financial Sanction for Contempt for Discovery Misconduct)

Can FRAP 28(j) Be Used to Inform Court of Appeals of Pertinent Factual Developments Arising During the Appeal?

RICO § 1964(c): Where Federal and State Law Conflict, State Law Does Not Control in Determining Whether Plaintiff Suffered Injury to Business Or Property for RICO Purposes

Rule 11 – Unequivocal Request to Withdraw Action Without Prejudice Within 21 Days of Motion Satisfies Safe Harbor, Even If Action Not Formally Dismissed Until After 21-Day Period Has Expired – No Requirement to Agree to Dismiss With Prejudice

Merely Not Following Through With Notice To File Rule 11 Motion Is An Insufficient Basis on Which to Conclude That The Threat Was Meritless — But It Is Some Evidence

Recent Posts

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

Sanctions vs. Automatic Stay: Imposition of Sanctions (Here, Inherent Power Sanctions) Is Subject to the Police Power Exception to the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy

The Word “Include” May Be A Word of Limitation As Opposed to a Word of Enlargement, Depending on the Context

Spoliation/Sanctions: “A Party Does Not Spoliate Evidence When, Without Notice Of The Evidence’s Potential Relevance, It Destroys The Evidence According To Its Policy Or In The Normal Course Of Its Business” (Good Quote)

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