Patison v. Dye
Patison v. Dye
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
James Patison appeals the district court’s decisions affirming the bankruptcy court’s orders in four consolidated cases. Patison raises numerous claims challenging the bankruptcy court’s orders (1) imposing sanctions for not properly serving a subpoena; (2) revoking Patison’s employment as counsel for the unsecured creditors; (3) imposing sanctions for filing a frivolous motion to reconsider; and (4) granting summary judgment in favor of the Trustee and awarding punitive damages against Patison. We have jurisdiction to hear this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 28 U.S.C. § 158(d). We affirm the bankruptcy court as to all of its orders
We review the district court’s decision on an appeal from the bankruptcy court de novo.
I. Sanction for not Properly Serving Subpoenas
The bankruptcy judge did not err in finding that Patison improperly served subpoenas by not serving deposition notices prior to serving the subpoenas. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30 states that if a subpoena is to be served on the person to be examined in a deposition, the notice of deposition must contain a list of the materials to be produced. The text “to be served” thus indicates that notice must precede service of a subpoena. In addition, there would be no need for the notice to list the documents to be produced if the notice followed the subpoena. In that case, the subpoena would already have disclosed the materials to be produced.
The advisory committee note to Rule 45 confirms our interpretation of Rule 30. The note states that the prior notice requirement in Rule 45 only applies to subpoenas that are not connected with a deposition because depositions are covered by Rule 30.
For the reasons provided by the district court, we also hold that Patison was not denied due process when the bankruptcy judge imposed sanctions.
II. Revocation of Patison’s Employment
We do not need to decide if the court improperly proceeded by contested motion rather than by adversary proceeding for the disgorgement of fees. We will overturn the bankruptcy court’s decision only if it did not afford the parties adequate procedural protections and if it failed to develop the record adequately.
For the reasons stated by the district court, the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in revoking Patison’s employment. We also agree with the district court’s reasoning regarding the timeliness of the motion to revoke Patison’s employment.
The court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting the majority of Patisoris evidentiary objections. Any errors that did occur were harmless. The only evidence necessary to show Patisoris conflict of interest, and thus support the court’s revocation of the employment order, consisted of the transcript of the fee proceedings granting Patison his interim fees and the cancelled checks showing the amount of money that Patison took. The court correctly admitted that evidence because neither the transcript nor the statements in the transcript were inadmissable hearsay, and the checks were self-authenticating documents that satisfied the best evidence rule. Any other evidentiary errors were harmless because no other evidence was necessary to establish proof of Patisoris theft.
The court did not abuse its discretion in denying Patisoris motion for reconsideration because Patison did not present any newly discovered evidence or any proof of clear error or manifest injustice.
III. Sanctions for Frivolous Motion to Reconsider
For the reasons stated by the district court, the bankruptcy court did not err in finding that the Trustee satisfied the “safe harbor” provision of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9011.
The bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in awarding sanctions or in determining the amount awarded. Patison presented neither new evidence nor proof of clear error in his motion to reconsider. Thus, the bankruptcy court reasonably found the motion frivolous and awarded sanctions. As to the award, the judge calculated the fees herself based on the hours recorded by the law firm’s computer system and the hourly rate of the lawyers. This, plus the costs, was a reasonable basis for the award. It was also reasonable to include within the sanction the fees for time spent preparing and arguing the motion for sanctions because they were incurred as a result of the frivolous motion for reconsideration.
IV. Grant of Summary Judgment and Award of Punitive Damages
Patisoris evidentiary objections fail for the reasons stated by the district court. Patisoris collateral estoppel argument fails as well because there is no evidence that the court relied on the doctrine of collateral estoppel. The court made separate findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of its summary judgment order, showing that it considered the matter separately from its decision regarding the employment revocation motion.
Patisoris argument that no evidence supported the claims for relief fails for the reasons discussed by the district court.
We will not consider Patisoris statute of limitations claims, other than for the post-petition transfer claim, because he did not
For the reasons stated by the district court, the bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion in denying Patison’s continuance.
The district court did err in affirming the bankruptcy court’s order of punitive damages. The bankruptcy court did not require the Trustee to provide proof of Patison’s wealth for damages awarded under state law. California requires that the plaintiff offer proof of the defendant’s wealth for an award of punitive damages.
On remand, the bankruptcy court must allocate the amount of punitive damages awarded under state law and the amount awarded under federal law. To the degree punitive damages are based on state law, the plaintiff must offer proof of the defendant’s wealth. We note that the Trustee did attempt to gain information about Patison’s wealth from Patison. Patison refused to comply with the Trustee’s request because discovery had closed and he was under no obligation to produce further information. The court may wish to reopen discovery to allow the parties the opportunity to collect evidence of Patison’s wealth in order to support a renewed motion for punitive damages under state law.
We affirm the district court with respect to everything except the punitive damages award. That award must be remanded to the bankruptcy court with instructions to allocate the amount of damages that pertained to state law claims and the amount that pertained to federal law claims. The state law punitive damages award must be dismissed unless the Trustee provides evi
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. In re Turley, 172 F.3d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1999).
. In re Dudley, 249 F.3d 1170, 1173 (9th Cir. 2001).
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 45 advisory committee note, 1991 Amendment.
. In re Boni, 240 B.R. 381, 386 (9th Cir.BAP1999); In re Laskin, 222 B.R. 872, 874 (9th Cir.BAP1998).
. School Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah County, Oregon v. ACandS Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th Cir. 1993).
. Margolis v. Ryan, 140 F.3d 850, 854-55 (9th Cir. 1998) (allowing district court to include the costs associated with sanction proceedings in a Rule 11 sanction).
. Llamas v. Butte Cmty. Coll. Dist., 238 F.3d 1123, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding that court will not consider issue on appeal that was not raised below unless it would result in manifest injustice, and there is no manifest injustice in refusing to review a claim if appellant fails to provide a reason for his failure to raise the issue below).
. Adams v. Murakami, 54 Cal.3d 105, 119, 284 Cal.Rptr. 318, 813 P.2d 1348 (Cal. 1991).
. Chavez v. Keat, 34 Cal.App.4th 1406, 1410-11, 41 Cal.Rptr.2d 72 (Cal.App. 1995); Tri-Tron Int’l v. Velto, 525 F.2d 432, 438 (9th Cir. 1975) (for federal law claim, holding that injured party does not have burden of proof to produce evidence of defendant’s ability to pay).
. See Morgan v. Woessner, 997 F.2d 1244, 1259 (9th Cir. 1993) (remanding state law portion of punitive damages award for the purpose of reconsidering the award in light of the fact that plaintiff must provide evidence of defendant’s financial worth).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re: DIXIE FARMS MARKET, Debtor, James L. Patison Law Offices of James L. Patison, a Professional Corporation v. Carolyn A. Dye, Trustee, Appellee In re: Dixie Farms Market, Debtor, James L. Patison John F. Shellabarger Law Offices of John F. Shellabarger v. Carolyn A. Dye, Trustee, Appellee In re: Dixie Farms Market, Debtor, James L. Patison Law Offices of James L. Patison, a Professional Corporation v. Carolyn A. Dye, Trustee, Appellee In re: Dixie Farms Market, Debtor, James L. Patison v. Carolyn A. Dye, Trustee
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published