Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00161/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00161-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID LASIC, JR., an

individual,

2:05-cv-0161-MCE-JFM

Plaintiff,

v. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

DANA MORENO; UNITED STATES

POSTAL SERVICE;

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; and

DOES 1 through 10 inclusive,

Defendants.

----oo0oo----

Through the present action, Plaintiff David Lasic, Jr.

alleges his civil rights were violated when he was seized and

maliciously prosecuted by Defendant Dana Moreno (“Moreno”) and

Defendant United States of America in violation of the Fourth

Amendment of the United States Constitution. Presently before

the Court is Plaintiff David Lasic’s Motion for Sanctions against

McM Group, Kenton Kaplan, Samuel Zaif and The Law Firm of Dryden,

Margoles, Schimaneck & Wertz. 

Case 2:05-cv-00161-MCE -DAD Document 112 Filed 01/26/07 Page 1 of 3
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Also before the Court is the Federal Defendant’s Joinder in

Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions and an Opposition to Plaintiff’s

request that Moreno’s Answer be stricken. For the reasons set

forth below, the Court grants the Motion for Sanctions against

McM Group and Kenton Kaplan. The Court denies the Motion insofar

as it seeks relief against Samuel Zaif and The Law Firm of

Dryden, Margoles, Schimaneck & Wertz. The Court further denies

the Motion insofar as it requests Moreno’s Answer be stricken.

On October 31, 2006, this Court ordered that a

representative of McM Group, Program Division (“McM Group”)

appear at a Mandatory Settlement Conference that was to proceed

before Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows on December 1, 2006. 

The Court specified that McM Group’s representative, Kenton

Kaplan, was to appear “in person ... WITH FULL SETTLEMENT

AUTHORITY.” See Joint Stip. and Order, October 31, 2006, P. 3

(emphasis in original). In a letter dated November 17, 2006,

counsel for McM Group requested that it be excused from the

foregoing Order to personally appear at that hearing. On that

same day, this Court issued an Order denying McM Group’s request. 

See Order, November 17, 2006, Docket No. 70.

At the Settlement Conference before Judge Hollows, a less

than global settlement was reached due directly to McM Group’s

failure of Kaplan to personally appear with full settlement

authority. That failure was in direct violation of this Court’s

express Order otherwise. Consequently, the Court issued an Order

to Show Cause. Contemporaneously with that Order, Plaintiff and

the Federal Defender filed Motions for Sanctions in this matter.

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On January 22, 2007, the Court held a hearing on its Order

to Show Cause and the Motion for Sanctions. During that

proceeding, Counsel for McM Group argued that it had no

obligation to appear given its position that the policy does not

apply to the present action. Mr. Kaplan took the position that

he did not feel his presence at the hearing was mandatory despite

the Court’s Order. 

The Court finds McM Group and Kenton Kaplan have failed to

show sufficient cause for its blatant disregard of this Court’s

clear Order. Accordingly, sanctions are warranted. McM Group

shall pay the hourly rate and expenses of Plaintiff’s Counsel and

the Federal Defender’s Counsel for time and resources expended.

McM Group is hereby ordered to tender the sum of $7,500.00

to Plaintiff’s Counsel, Philip H. Stillman of Flynn & Stillman,

within twenty (20) days of the date of this Order. McM Group is

further ordered to tender the sum of $2,500.00 to the United

States of America within twenty (20) days of the date of this

Order. Kenton Kaplan is hereby ordered to personally tender the

sum of $500.00 to the Clerk of this Court within twenty (20) days

of the date of this Order. Declarations under penalty of perjury

stating that said sums have been tendered are to be filed with

this court not later than twenty five (25) days of the date of

this Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 25, 2007

_____________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:05-cv-00161-MCE -DAD Document 112 Filed 01/26/07 Page 3 of 3