Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_05-cv-01243/USCOURTS-alnd-2_05-cv-01243-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Kelly Lewis
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA 

SOUTHERN DIVISION 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 

PETITIONER, 1 

VS. ) 2:05-cv-01243-JHH 

KELLY LEWIS, ) 

RESPONDENT. ) 

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION 

On October 20,2005 the court entered an order (Doc. #12)finding Kelly 

Lewis, President, Lewis Plumbing, Inc., in civil contempt of this court for his 

failure to comply with the August 17,2005 order (Doc. #4) requiring him to 

produce documents as discussed in the October 20,2005 order. To coerce Lewis 

to comply in the future with the production order and to compensate the United 

States "for the expenses andlor losses incurred as a result of Lewis' failure to 

comply," the order (Doc. #12) imposed on Lewis a civil fine of $100 a day 

(excluding Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays), beginning November 14, 

2005, and continuing until Lewis purged himself of the civil contempt in the 

manner set forth in the order. The accrual of the daily fine was also subject to the 

possible termination by the United States petitioning the court "to convert then 

accrued and unpaid fines to a sum certain" so that final judgment in favor of 

petitioner for the sum certain could be entered, "thereby terminating this action to 

the end that petitioner can proceed to collect such fines." On February 27,2006 

FILED

 2006 Oct-11 AM 11:44

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:05-cv-01243-JHH Document 17 Filed 10/11/06 Page 1 of 2
the United States filed a document (Doc. #15) which , among other things, 

requested a hearing to determine the amount of a civil fine to be imposed on 

Respondent Lewis as a result of the October 20,2005 order. That request was 

denied by the March 1,2006 order (Doc. #16), which the court has now 

reconsidered since nothing further has occurred in this action. On such further 

review, the court concludes that it misconstrued petitioner's February 27,2006 

request. The court is now satisfied petitioner was electing to exercise its right to 

convert the fine to a sum certain so as to terminate this action and be in a position 

to collect the fine designed to compensate petitioner for its expenses and losses 

incurred as a result of Lewis' conduct. 

There were seventy-two days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and federal 

holidays, between November 14,2005 when the civil fine began until 

February 27,2006 when the document (Doc. # 15) now being reconsidered was 

filed. Accordingly, the court will by separate order enter a judgment in favor of 

the United States of America and against Kelley Lewis for $7,200, thereby 

terminating this action. 

The clerk is directed to mail a copy of this memorandum of decision, as well 

as the accompanying final judgment to Lewis at 422 1 Shades Crest Road, 

Birmingham, Alabama 35244. 

DONE this the //&day of October, 2006. 

)J, )d4 

NIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 2:05-cv-01243-JHH Document 17 Filed 10/11/06 Page 2 of 2