Case Title: Lawson v. Brown's Home Day Care Center, Inc.

Citation: 177 Vt. 528, 2004 VT 61, 861 A.2d 1048

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2004-07-08T00:00:00Z

Document:
Lawson v. Brown's Home Day Care Center, Inc. (2003-112); 177 Vt. 528;
861 A.2d 1048

2004 VT 61

[Filed 08-Jul-2004]
[Motion for Reargument Denied 20-Aug-2004]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                                 2004 VT 61

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 2003-112

                              APRIL TERM, 2004

  Katherine Lawson and Bradley Lawson	}	APPEALED FROM:
                                        }
                                        }
       v.	                        }	Caledonia Superior Court
                                        }	
  Brown's Home Day Care Center, Inc.    }
  and Lucille Nelson and Robert         }
  Nelson, Jr. (Duncan F. Kilmartin,     }	DOCKET NO. 195-9-97 Cacv
  Appellant)                            }

                                                Trial Judge: Mary Miles Teachout

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       ¶  1.  Duncan Kilmartin appeals from the trial court's order, on
  remand, upholding its imposition of $2000 in sanctions.  The court found
  that Kilmartin acted in bad faith in filing unsealed materials from a
  confidential mediation session with the court.  Kilmartin argues that the
  court's order should be reversed because: (1) he was deprived of his due
  process right to advance notice that his conduct was proscribed; (2) due
  process required proof of his misconduct beyond a reasonable doubt; (3) the
  trial court erred in finding that he acted in bad faith; and (4) the court
  lacked jurisdiction to sanction him after August 10, 1998 when the
  underlying case was dismissed.  

       ¶  2.  As discussed below, we find these arguments without merit. 
  The trial court was ordered on remand to determine Kilmartin's motivation
  in disclosing confidential materials.  See Lawson v. Brown's Day Care Ctr.,
  Inc., 172 Vt. 574, 574,