Stipe v. First Interstate Bank of Polson , 329 Mont. 320 ( 2005 )

No. 04-366
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2005 MT 295__________________________________________
VERNON C. STIPE, MARVIN W. STIPE,
and DOUGLASS M. STIPE,
Plaintiffs and Appellants,
v.
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF POLSON,
Defendant and Respondent.
__________________________________________
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Twentieth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Lake, Cause No. DV 02-197
The Honorable Deborah Kim Christopher, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellants:
Quintin M. Rhoades, Sullivan Tabaracci & Rhoades, P.C., Missoula,
Montana
For Respondent:
Dean A. Stensland, Scott M. Stearns, Boone Karlberg, P.C., Missoula,
Montana
__________________________________________
Submitted on Briefs: October 25, 2005
Decided: November 23, 2005
Filed:
________________________________
Justice John Warner delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Vernon Stipe, Marvin Stipe, and Douglass Stipe (collectively Stipes) appeal from
an order entered July 8, 2003, awarding Defendant and Respondent First Interstate Bank
of Polson (FIB) attorney fees and costs as a sanction because it was required to defend
against discovery abuses by Stipes and their counsel.
¶2 Stipes raise several issues on appeal, including this Court=s jurisdiction to hear it,
the timeliness of the appeal, and the merits of the award of attorney fees. However, all
but one of these issues was decided on a motion to dismiss this appeal. By order issued
on July 7, 2004, the Court concluded that the only issue properly before us on this appeal
is the basis of the award of attorney fees against Stipes. Therefore, we restate the issues
before us as follows:
¶3 1. Did the District Court err in granting FIB attorney fees as a sanction against
Stipes without a specific hearing for this purpose?
¶4 2. Is there an adequate basis for the award of Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P., sanctions
against Stipes?
¶5 We affirm.
¶6 This action was filed in December of 2002. No decision on the merits of Stipes=
claims has been made, and the process has clearly been delayed further by this appeal.
Stipes= complaint alleges FIB maliciously foreclosed a security interest on some of their
ranch property. Stipes also allege that FIB intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon
them. In its various orders throughout this litigation the District Court has found
numerous facts, most of which are uncontested. The essential facts relevant to this appeal
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are stated below.
¶7 During the course of its factual investigation FIB met with a potential witness, Lisa
Stipe. Ms. Stipe was in the process of dissolving her marriage to Plaintiff Marvin Stipe.
Upon learning of the meeting between Lisa Stipe and FIB=s counsel, all of the Stipes
refused to attend scheduled depositions. In conjunction with their refusal Stipes filed a
motion for a protective order barring FIB from further communications with Lisa Stipe.
FIB then filed a motion to compel discovery and a brief in support of its motion seeking
an award of its costs and attorney fees for being forced to secure a court order to take the
depositions of Vernon Stipe and Marvin Stipe. FIB also sought costs associated with
noticing and preparing for the depositions when the deponents failed to attend.
¶8 On June 6, 2003, the District Court entered its order holding that there was no
violation of the spousal privilege by counsel for FIB, denying FIB=s motion to compel
and Stipes= motion for protective order, and ordering the parties to immediately proceed
with discovery.
¶9 On June 12, 2003, FIB filed notices of depositions of Vernon Stipe and Douglass
Stipe for June 25, 2003, and Martin Stipe for July 2, 2003. On June 12, 2003, Stipes
moved for an injunction halting discovery, and also sought removal of FIB=s counsel for
allegedly violating the spousal privilege. The basis for this motion was the same meeting
between Lisa Stipes and FIB=s counsel that the District Court had already ruled was not
improper. At a hearing on June 19, 2003, the District Court denied Stipes’ injunction
application. The District Court also requested at the hearing that counsel for FIB submit
an affidavit stating his attorney fees in responding to the motion. However, the judge
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said that attorney fees might be suspended if the litigation made progress. Counsel for
FIB, as ordered, filed an affidavit on July 2, 2003, claiming fees in the amount of
$11,741.
¶10 On June 23, 2003, Stipes filed a Notice of Appeal from the District Court=s denial
of their injunction request. This Afirst appeal@ was from the Order entered on June 19,
2003, denying Plaintiffs= application for preliminary and final injunction. Stipes then
unilaterally decided not to appear for their depositions scheduled for June 25, 2003, and
July 2, 2003.
¶11 On July 8, 2003, the District Court entered a written order containing its reasoning
for denying the application for injunctive relief. This order also awarded FIB attorney
fees in the amount of $11,741 for abuse of the discovery process. The reasons for the
award of attorney fees were set out in some detail, along with a statement of the reasons
for the sanction, and a cogent legal analysis. The District Court, while it set an amount
for the sanction, offered Stipes the opportunity to object to the amount.
¶12 On July 17, 2003, Stipes filed an objection to the amount of the attorney fee award.
The objection was filed along with an extensive brief. Counsel for Stipes argued that the
fee award was too large, that the determination of the amount of a reasonable fee required
an evidentiary hearing, that fees should not be awarded based on what had occurred, and
that the District Court did not have jurisdiction to award fees because Stipes had
appealed. Counsel for Stipes reiterated in some detail what had occurred and argued
from these facts that the sanction was not justified. However, at no time was the
argument made to the District Court that the sanction was improper because there had
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been no hearing at which a defense to the award could be made. FIB moved to strike
Stipe=s objection to the award of attorney fees, and that was briefed. The District Court,
recognizing that Stipes had a right to a hearing on the award of fees and that the case was
on appeal to this Court, stayed the hearing pending resolution of the first appeal.
¶13 On December 3, 2003, Stipes moved to voluntarily dismiss the first appeal. FIB
consented, and on December 11, 2003, this Court entered an order dismissing the first
appeal. The case was then returned to the District Court.
¶14 Suffice it to say that there was substantial further litigation and discovery on the
amount of attorney fees that should be awarded. However, the District Court steadfastly
held to its order that Stipes were entitled to a hearing on the amount of reasonable
attorney fees. Stipes did not argue to the District Court that the award of fees could not
be sustained because no hearing had been conducted wherein they could present a
defense to the sanction itself. Then, finally, after the District Court had scheduled and
re-scheduled a hearing on the amount of the fees, the hearing was set for May 6, 2004.
But Stipes moved to postpone the hearing yet again. FIB objected.
¶15 On May 4, 2004, Stipes’ counsel signed a document entitled “Notice of Withdrawal
of Objection to Attorney Fees,” and filed it May 5, 2004, the day before the scheduled
hearing. This notice stated that Stipes withdrew their objection to the amount of the fees,
but “continue[d] to assert their other, legal objections to the Court=s award of attorney
fees.” It is this withdrawal that is described in this Court=s order of July 7, 2004,
wherein we denied FIB=s motion to dismiss this appeal.
¶16 After the withdrawal of the objection filed on May 5, 2004, counsel for Stipes and
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FIB entered a separate stipulation, which was dated May 5, 2004, and filed May 6, 2004,
to vacate the May 6 hearing on the attorney fee sanction. In this stipulation it was agreed
that the hearing should be vacated, the amount of the attorney fee award was reasonable,
and further that “Plaintiffs [Stipes] agree[d] to waive their right to object to the lack of an
evidentiary hearing regarding the award of attorney fees and costs.” That same day, the
District Court denied the motion to continue the hearing, but also vacated the hearing
based on the notice of withdrawal of the objection.
¶17 On May 12, 2004, Stipes filed a notice of entry of judgment, pursuant to Rule 77,
M.R.Civ.P., referring to the District Court=s July 8, 2003, order denying their application
for injunctive relief and awarding FIB attorney fees as a sanction. On May 19, 2004,
Stipes appealed from the July 8 order. As noted above in & 2, in this Court=s Order of
July 7, 2004, we denied FIB=s motion to dismiss this appeal and left for consideration
the basis of the award of attorney fees against Stipes.
¶18 The first issue on appeal is whether the District Court erred in granting FIB
attorney fees as a sanction against Stipes without a specific hearing for this purpose.
There has been no separate hearing for Stipes to show why sanctions should not be
granted. Stipes argue that before a district court may impose sanctions pursuant to Rule
11, M.R.Civ.P., it must conduct a hearing, citing Muri v. Frank, 2003 MT 316, & 22, 318
Mont. 269, & 22, 80 P.3d 77, & 22. They now argue that they were entitled to a hearing
that comports with due process protections, affording them an opportunity to be heard
and to defend against the imposition of sanctions. Although Stipes state that the District
Court erred by not holding such a hearing on sanctions, they do not seek a remand for a
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hearing. Stipes simply argue to this Court that sanctions are not justified and the award
must be reversed; they pray only for remand for a trial on the merits of their claims.
¶19 FIB argues that Stipes waived their opportunity for a hearing by withdrawing their
objection to the amount of attorney fees and further through the corresponding stipulation
waiving a hearing on the fees to be awarded.
¶20 Stipes are correct that before a district court may impose sanctions pursuant to Rule
11, M.R.Civ.P., it must conduct a hearing for that purpose. Muri, & 22; Lindey=s, Inc. v.
Goodover (1994), 264 Mont. 489, 497, 872 P.2d 767, 772. District judges must keep in
mind that the trial court must give notice to the party it proposes to sanction, and hold a
hearing on whether such sanctions should be imposed, before imposing Rule 11
sanctions, so that the party it proposes to sanction will be provided with due process
before it is punished. Lindey=s, Inc., 264 Mont. at 497, 872 P.2d at 772. However, in
this case Stipes waived such a hearing.
¶21 The District Court advised Stipes at the hearing on June 19, 2003, that it was
considering an award of sanctions against them. In its order of July 8, 2003, the Court
made such an award and gave Stipes the right to object to the amount. Stipes objected.
Then, approximately one year later, after great sturm und drang, withdrew their objection
on May 4, 2004, two days before the hearing. The following day, May 5, 2004, Stipes
signed a Stipulation to Vacate May 6, 2004 Hearing on Award of Attorney Fees, agreeing
as follows:
1. Plaintiffs agree to withdraw their Objection to Award of Attorney Fees
and Costs filed July 17, 2003;
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2. Plaintiffs agree and stipulate the amount awarded against Plaintiffs in the
Courts= July 8, 2003 Opinion and Order in the amount of $11,741.00, is
reasonable and appropriate;
3. The parties stipulate, as a result of Plaintiffs= withdrawal of their July
17, 2003 objection, and Plaintiffs’ stipulation to the reasonableness of the
$11,741.00 amount, the hearing scheduled for May 6, 2004, should be
vacated;
4. Plaintiffs agree to waive their right to object to the lack of an evidentiary
hearing regarding the award of attorney fees and costs.
¶22 Stipes argue that even though the language of their Notice of Withdrawal of
Objection to Attorney Fees waived their objection to the reasonableness of the attorney
fees, it preserved their “other, legal objections to the Court=s award of attorney fees.”
We recognized that such a distinction could exist in our Order filed June 7, 2004,
allowing Stipes to continue with the present appeal. However, after a review of the
complete record, we conclude that by the stipulation to vacate, Stipes waived their right
to a hearing regarding the appropriateness of the award of attorney fees and costs.
¶23 Paragraph 1. of the stipulation states that Stipes “withdraw their Objection to
Award of Attorney Fees and Costs[.]” While this paragraph does not make any
distinction between the award of a sanction, and the amount of such award, it does refer
to the notice of withdrawal, which references such distinction. Giving Stipes the benefit
of the doubt, it could be said that paragraph 1. could preserve Stipes= right to object to
the award of attorney fees.
¶24 In paragraph 2. of the stipulation Stipes agreed that the amount of the fees awarded
against them was both “reasonable and appropriate.” The word “reasonable” refers to the
amount of the award. However, in agreeing that the award was “appropriate,” Stipes
waived their right to object to the award itself.
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¶25 Finally, in paragraph 4., Stipes “waive[d] their right to object to the lack of an
evidentiary hearing regarding the award of attorney fees and costs.” (emphasis added).
This is a general statement, which can only be interpreted to constitute a waiver of any
objection to the imposition of the attorney fees, as well as the reasonableness of the
amount.
¶26 We conclude that by the stipulation of May 5, 2003, Stipes waived their right to a
hearing on the award of attorney fees.
¶27 The second issue on appeal is whether there was an adequate basis for the award of
Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P., sanctions.
¶28 Stipes claim that there is no basis for the sanctions. They argue that their motion for
an injunction and motion for disqualification of FIB=s counsel were not an attempt to re-
litigate the spousal privilege issue, as the matter of an injunction to stay discovery was
not before the District Court when it issued its order of June 6, 2003, denying their
motion for a protective order. They further argue that their motion was a good faith
argument to extend the law.
¶29 The District Court, in its order of July 8, 2003, painstakingly set forth its reasons
for sanctioning Stipes. The District Judge made clear which pleadings, motions, and
other actions the sanctions were based on. Specifically, the District Court found that
Stipes attempted to take a second run at issues previously determined by the District
Court and that they repeatedly, unilaterally and improperly refused to attend properly
noticed depositions. In making its July 8, 2003, findings, the District Court reviewed the
evidence and its order of June 6, 2003, referred to in & 8 above, wherein Stipes= first
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demand for a protective order was made. It then determined that the entire basis of
Stipes= petition for an injunction was the conversation between FIB=s counsel and
Marvin Stipe=s estranged wife, which it had already determined did not violate the
spousal privilege. The record supports this conclusion. This matter had been ruled upon
in the June 6, 2003, order. The District Court accordingly found that the filing of the
petition for an injunction was unjustified, as were the refusals to attend properly noticed
depositions. The District Court then justifiably found that such conduct caused FIB to
incur unnecessary expense in re-litigating issues and in preparing for depositions that
Stipes refused to attend. The reasons stated by the District Court are more than adequate
to impose sanctions. Imposition of sanctions for discovery abuse under Rule 11,
M.R.Civ.P., is within the discretion of the District Court. Bulen v. Navajo Ref. Co., 2000
MT 222, & 18, 301 Mont. 195, & 18, 9 P.3d 607, & 18. We conclude that the District
Court did not abuse its discretion in awarding sanctions against Stipes.
¶30 Finally, after a detailed review of the record in the District Court and on appeal, we
conclude that while Stipes= present appeal is unsuccessful, it was an attempt to place
before this Court their position with regard to the award of sanctions. Thus, we decline to
award FIB attorney fees in conjunction with this appeal. FIB shall have its costs on
appeal.
/S/ JOHN WARNER
We Concur:
/S/ PATRICIA O. COTTER
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS
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/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
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Justice James C. Nelson dissents.
¶31 The Court's Opinion is a study in contradiction. On the one hand, the Court pays
lip service to the requirement for a due process hearing before imposition of a sanction
under Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P. The Court also "recognizes" that Stipe's counsel "could" have
objected to the amount and reasonableness of the sanction and still preserve his
objections to the sanction itself. However, even after giving Stipe's counsel the "benefit
of the doubt," the Court simply concludes that counsel waived the Rule 11 due process
hearing when he stipulated to vacate the evidentiary hearing on the amount and
reasonableness of the sanction. I disagree.
¶32 First, as long as we are in the business of parsing the language in the various
documents in the record, and, again, giving counsel the benefit of the doubt, I conclude
that counsel did preserve his objection to the Rule 11 sanction being imposed,
notwithstanding that he withdrew his objection to the lack of an evidentiary hearing on
the amount and reasonableness of the attorney fees sanction. The latter is all that
"Stipulation to Vacate May 6, 2004 Hearing on Award of Attorney Fees" covered.
Counsel preserved his "other, legal objections to the Court's award of attorney fees" in his
"Notice of Withdrawal of Objection to Attorney Fees" filed May 4, 2004.
¶33 The point to be noted here is that the District Court erred in allowing all of the
stürm und drang, as the Court puts it, in the first place. Before imposing a Rule 11
sanction, the court must, sua sponte, notice up a due process hearing and enter findings
supporting the imposition of the sanction. That was never accomplished in this case.
Our case law is clear.
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¶34 We have repeatedly imposed on the trial court the requirement to conduct a due
process hearing prior to the award of a Rule 11 sanction. Lindey's, Inc. v. Goodover
(1994), 264 Mont. 489, 872 P.2d 767, was the seminal case wherein we imposed this
requirement. In that case we stated:
Respondents argue that Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P., contains no
requirement that a trial court issue a separate and specific order to show
cause, setting forth the specific questionable conduct, or affording an
opportunity to be heard. In addition, respondents assert that the Montana
Rules of Civil Procedure provided appellant with adequate notice of the
claimed violation and ample opportunity to consider the issue without any
violation of appellant's due process rights. Respondents argue that appellant
had full notice that the District Court was required to impose sanctions
should it determine that the facts constituted a violation of the rule.
This issue presents a case of first impression. We agree with
appellant that it is entitled to notice and a hearing, and specifically, to know
the basis upon which the District Court imposed sanctions.
Respondents rely on the language of Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P., and their
pleadings wherein they raised the issue of whether appellant's independent
action had any factual or legal basis, and wherein they requested their costs
and attorney fees, pursuant to Rule 11.
Although Montana's Rule 11 does not state that a trial court must
give notice to show cause and hold a hearing before imposing Rule 11
sanctions, we hold that a trial court should do so in order to provide the
party with due process. The party should be afforded sufficient time in
which to prepare its case against imposition of sanctions. In addition, a trial
court should specify in its judgment or order upon which pleading(s),
motion(s), or other paper(s) it bases imposition of Rule 11 sanctions.
Lindey's, 264 Mont. at 497, 872 P.2d at 772.
¶35 We followed this rule in State v. Toole County (1996), 278 Mont. 253, 262-63,
924 P.2d 693, 698, and in Muri v. Frank, 2003 MT 316, ¶ 22, 318 Mont. 269, ¶ 22, 80
P.2d 77, ¶ 22.
¶36 In the case at bar, despite its obvious intention to sanction Stipe's counsel for
alleged discovery abuses, the District Court did not notice up a Rule 11 hearing, nor did it
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hold the hearing or make the requisite findings prior to imposing the sanction. Had the
court done so, it is entirely likely that we would not now have to sort through the record
and parse the language used by counsel in order to put our best spin on the proceedings
and documents so as to preserve the trial court from error.
¶37 Moreover, in failing to follow our case law, the Court simply ignores the fact that
the grounds for imposing the sanction and the amount and reasonableness of the sanction
are discrete legal issues. These issues require different proof and involve different
considerations.
¶38 As already noted in Lindey’s, the imposition of the sanction involves due process
considerations--notice and the opportunity to be heard and to offer proof that no sanction
at all be imposed. The proof in this proceeding will consist of evidence directed at
whether counsel did or did not, as a matter of fact, engage in conduct which was
interposed for an improper purpose such as harassment, causing unnecessary delay or
needless increase in the costs of litigation. Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P.
¶39 Once that bridge is crossed, and assuming the Court (a) determines that these Rule
11 criteria are proven and (b) makes the requisite findings to that effect, then the amount
and reasonableness issue is reached. In the ordinary case, this latter issue will likely
involve testimony from opposing counsel as to the attorney fees and costs incurred by his
or her client as a result of the objectionable conduct, and it might involve third-party
expert testimony as to the going rate of attorney fees vis-à-vis the nature and complexity
of the work involved and result achieved.
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¶40 It is undisputed that, here, there was no Rule 11 due process hearing. And, while
counsel may have waived the second hearing--as to the amount and reasonableness of
attorneys fees--the record is, at best, unclear whether counsel waived his right to contest
the imposition of the sanction in the first place. Indeed, the record more likely reflects
that he specifically preserved that objection.
¶41 I would reverse and remand for a Rule 11 due process hearing.
¶42 I dissent from our failure to so hold.
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
Chief Justice Gray joins in the dissents of Justice James C. Nelson.
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
Justice Jim Rice joins in the dissent of Justice James C. Nelson.
/S/ JIM RICE
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