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Timestamp: 2017-12-15 13:44:02
Document Index: 672917051

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 401', '§ 105', '§ 105', '§ 105', '§ 105', '§ 401', '§ 3612', '§ 3612', '§ 401']

Judgment First Circuit
No. 00-2456
ALPHONSE MOURAD, Defendant, Appellant.
Entered: May 14, 2002
Upon consideration whereof, it is now here ordered, adjudged and decreed as follows: The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Richard Gushing Donovan, Clerk
JANICE M. O'NEIL
[ Cert. copy Judge Lindsay and Anastas, Clerk, DCMA ] [cc: Messrs. Berman and Casper]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appellee, v.
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS [Hon. Reginald C. Lindsay, U.S. District Judge]
Torruella, Circuit Judge, Coffin, Senior Circuit Judge. and Lipez, Circuit Judge.
Joseph S. Herman, with whom Berman & Dowell was on brief, for appellant.
Per Curiam. Defendant-appellant Alphonse Mourad was convicted of criminal contempt for violating a court order. He appeals this conviction, claiming that the order was void and that his violation of it was not willful. Because we find that the order was not "transparently invalid, " was in effect on the date of its transgression, and was willfully violated, we affirm the appellant's conviction.
Alphonse Mourad was the president, sole shareholder, and director of V&M Management, Inc. ("V&M"), which owned a low-income apartment complex in Roxbury, Massachusetts. On January 8, 1996, Mourad filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on behalf of V&M. During the ensuing litigation in the bankruptcy court, the appellant, as a result of his dissatisfaction with certain legal rulings, filed a number of motions requesting Chief Judge Kenner, the presiding judge, to recuse herself. Then, on November 5, 1998, Mourad filed an "Emergency Motion to Be Imprisoned, and To Go On A Hunger Strike Protest Until Judge Kenner Rules on Mourad's Six Motions That Have Been Pending Since January of 1998. " On November 13, 1998, the appellant followed this with an "Emergency Motion Vowing Not to Leave Chief Justice Kenner's Courtroom and Be Arrested and Go On A Hunger Strike, Unless She (Kenner) Recognizes His (Mourad's) Claims and Sets Date to Hear His Motions." The bankruptcy court noted that on both November 5 and 13, 1998, the appellant "appeared at the premises of this Court in attempts to disrupt Court business by vowing not to leave the premises of the Bankruptcy Court and
courtrooms," which are located on the eleventh floor of the O'Neill suilding in Boston, Massachusetts.
In response to these disruptive actions, on November 16, 1.998, Chief Judge Kenner issued an order barring Mourad "from sntering the Eleventh Floor of the O'Neill Building . . . until further order of this Court," except for'a hearing'scheduled for'" November 30, 1998 in V&M's bankruptcy case. A copy of the order was both personally served on and mailed to the appellant on
November 16, 1998. (
After entry of the order, Mourad repeatedly expressed his
intention to violate it. Sometime after November 16, 1998, the appellant telephoned Deputy U.S. Marshal Stephen Donaher, telling Donaher that he wanted to be arrested to attract media attention for his case. Then, at the November 30, 1998 hearing before the bankruptcy court, Mourad told the court, "I want to go to prison and stay there and go on a hunger strike today," and "I'm asking you [the court] politely to ask the U.S. Marshal to take me away." On December 8, 1998, the appellant telephoned the pro se clerk of the district court, informing her that he wanted to be taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals. Also in December, 1998, Mourad appeared at the security checkpoint on the eleventh floor of the O'Neill building, where he told the security officers that he wanted to be arrested. One of the security officers persuaded Mourad to leave.
On May 12, 1999, Mourad, carrying a copy of Judge Kenner's order, appeared at the eleventh floor security checkpoint
of the O'Neill building. He informed the security officers fchat^Sfl was there to violate the order and b^ arrested. Deputy U.sll
Marshal Donaher led Mourad to a conference room where he attempti^
! *^5^ to convince Mourad to leave. After the appellant repeatedlS
Y^1','®
refused, the Deputy Marshal arrested him. S^i
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At trial in the district court, Mourad, testified that -tie was confused about whether the order was still in effect wh.eni.tiie
**'^*^^
entered the eleventh floor of the O'Neill building on May 12, 19a%|
The appellant further testified that he entered the eleventh flocal ::,1^
*A^'.;i
on that day to determine whether another lawsuit that he had fil^Gi.
, '1^^ had been docketed in the bankruptcy court; he denied any intent'-tcj
get arrested, ^y
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The trial judge, determining that the order was n
"patently unconstitutional," precluded the appellant fr0.i challenging the validity of the order itself under the collater^pl bar rule. Moreover, the district court, finding that the order wafc| still in effect on May 12, 1999, and that the defendant;
intentionally violated the order, convicted the appellant of criminal contempt under 18 U.S.C. § 401(3). 1s II. ^1;
On appeal, Mourad raises three challenges to hias conviction. First, he argues that the district court erred ^ applying the collateral bar rule to prevent him from challengiEl® the validity and constitutionality of the order. Second, hS contends that, contrary to the district court's finding, the o^ds2 was no longer in effect at the time of its alleged violation-
rKird, the appellant asserts that there was insufficient evidence 66 support the district court's finding that he acted willfully in disobeying the court's order.
This Court reviews a district court's criminal contempt finding for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Winter, 70 F";3d 655, 659 (1st Cir. 1995). Within this context,' 'factual^ findings will be upheld unless there is clear error, but legal questions will be reviewed de novo. ' See id. Keeping these s∧ards in mind, we turn to the appellant's allegations of error.
IN-' A-
,,£:.; The appellant's first claim of error is that the district
;court erroneously applied the collateral bar rule to his case. The tiollateral bar rule provides that "a party may not violate an order and raise the issue of its unconstitutionality collaterally as a defense in the criminal contempt proceeding." In re Providence Journal Co. . 820 F.2dl342, 1346 (1st Cir. 1986) ("Providence I") . modified on reh'cr en bane. 820 F.2d 1354 (1987) ("Providence II"). ^"Rather, the appropriate method to challenge a court order is to *petition to have the order vacated or amended." Id. The rationale tS©r this rule is "both to protect the authority of the courts when ;they address close questions and to create a strong incentive for parties to follow the orderly process of law." Id. at 1347. In Jshort, "no man can be judge in his own case." Walker v. City of Birmingham. 388 U.S. 307, 320 (1967) (holding that petitioners, who Deliberately violated injunction without first attempting to dissolve injunction, were properly convicted of criminal contempt) .
Although Mourad acknowledges the general application dfs-^ collateral bar rule, he contends that an exception -,^
"transparently invalid" orders prevents its application in tH^
'^.*|1 case. , ^A,^
Under this exception, if an order is "transparently invalid," a party may challenge the „order's validity ^oal
constitutionality as a defense in a criminal contempt proceedingfi
"'§'^8il See Providence 1, 820 F.2d at 1347-48. When an order is dearie
J®Nh
invalid, the rationale for the collateral bar rule dissolve^
because "in that instance the court is acting so far in excessao2J| 11%-^ *-^*'vis
its authority that it has no right to expect compliance and: -ii©|
interest is protected by requiring compliance." Id. at 1347. Tfa^ appellant argues that the order here is transparently invalid, "is^
that the district court should have allowed him to attack t]|^ order's validity.1 ' ^^ Mourad points to two factors to support his position tha|i the order was transparently invalid: the order's unlimited durata.^^
^ii|"j||
and the lack of procedural due process. He notes that, although|^
court has the power to enjoin "a party from filing and processa||g
. .|Ji| frivolous and vexations lawsuits, " any such injunction must ;3|g
narrowly tailored so as not to offend the individual's right-^H
*^INl
access to the courts. United States v. Castro, 775 F.2d 399, 4fi|||
1 The appellant also asserts that he has met the prerequisite foa^^ applying this exception by making a good faith attempt to ^s^l^l emergency appellate relief from the order. See Providence II, ®l||g| F.2d at 1355. The appellee disputes that the appellant has msl^ any such good faith attempt. We need not decide this issue sinc^j
410 (1st Cir. 1984) (per curiam) . An injunction in effect "until further order of this Court," Mourad argues, is not narrowly tailored. Moreover, the appellant asserts that the order was clearly invalid because it was issued without notice or a hearing, in disregard of procedural due process requirements.
' Under our precedent, an orde'r should be c'otlsidered" ' transparently invalid only if "the court reviewing the order finds the order to have had [no] pretence to validity at the time it was issued." Providence I. 820 F.2d at 1347. In this case, we cannot say that the order is transparently invalid under either of the appellant's proffered theories.
issue any order, process, or judgment that is necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this title. No provision of this title . . . shall be construed to preclude the court from, sua sponte, taking any action or making any determination necessary or appropriate to enforce or implement court orders or rules, or to prevent an abuse of process.
11 U.S.C. § 105(a) (emphasis added). The purpose of the bankruptcy court's order excluding the appellant from the eleventh floor of the O'Neill building was to prevent the disruption of judicial proceedings that was threatened by Mourad's behavior. Given that more drastic orders have been upheld under the bankruptcy court's § 105 powers to protect the orderly administration of justice, Chief Judge Kenner's order seems to fall well within the bankruptcy court's general authority, particularly since the appellant was
still able to make filings and inquiries with the court by mail or telephone. See. e.g. . In re Casse. 198 F.3d 327, 339, 341 (2d Cir. 1999) (upholding power of bankruptcy court under § 105 to prohibit "serial filer" from future filings for extended time periods to safeguard against abuse of the bankruptcy process); In re Volpert, 110 F.3d 494, 500 (7th Cir. 1997) (affirming,, bankruptcy court's power to sanction party under § 105 for "unreasonably and vexatiously" increasing the court's workload). Moreover, "[t]he ability to prevent the type of behavior exhibited in this case is necessary if the bankruptcy courts are to carry out efficiently and effectively the duties assigned to them by Congress" and "to maintain control of their courtrooms and of their dockets." In re Volpert. 110 F.3d at 500, 501.
Mourad also bases his claim of transparent invalidity on the lack of due process because no notice or hearing was provided prior to the order's issuance. Although a denial of meaningful access to the courts may constitute a deprivation of a life,
liberty, or property interest, thereby triggering due process protections, see Roqan v. City of Boston. 267 F.3d 24, 28 (1st Cir. 2001), that is not the situation presented here. The appellant was only barred from physically entering the eleventh floor of the O'Neill building. Although this did prevent his physical access *to the clerk's office,' Mourad was still "able' to file documents with' the court either via mail or by hand delivery to the security guards at the entrance to the eleventh floor. The order limited only his ability to be physically present in the bankruptcy court;
it did not deny him meaningful access to the court. Therefore, due process protections, such as notice and a hearing, were never triggered.
Mourad's second challenge to his contempt conviction is that the order had expired by the time he allegedly violated it. As this presents primarily a legal question, we review the appellant's claim de novo. See Winter. 70 F.3d at 659.
The appellant argues that, on December 23, 1998, Chief Judge Kenner effectively "closed" the bankruptcy case, except for two matters specifically excluded, by granting the Amended Motion for Entry of Final Decree Closing Bankruptcy Case. Thus, after
this date, Mourad contends that, with the exception of those two matters, the bankruptcy court was relieved of jurisdiction over the case. As a result, the appellant asserts that the order, which did not relate to the excepted matters, was no longer in effect when he entered the eleventh floor of the O'Neill building on May 12, 1999.
We disagree. ^ „ ,,, , ,,, - ' i
First, the December 23, 1998 order did not close the case, as the appellant states. Rather, the order stated that the case would remain open as to those matters pending on appeal and as to those matters which could still be appealed. As late as November 10, 1999, almost six months after Mourad's violation of the order, the bankruptcy court noted that there were still pending matters in the case which prevented it from entering a final decree. Therefore, even in November of 1999 the case was not yet closed. '
Second, even if we were to credit Mourad's argument that the bankruptcy case was closed, the court still would not have lost jurisdiction to enforce its order. See Koehler v. Grant. 213 B.R. 567, 569-70 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 1997) (stating that "it is well-sstablished that courts retain jurisdiction to enforce their own orders," even after the bankruptcy court has closed the case);
accord In re Lemco Gypsum, Inc., 910 F.2d 784, 788 (llth Cir. 1990).
Thus, because the case was not closed and the bankruptcy =ourt had continuing jurisdiction to enforce its orders, the iistrict court properly found that Chief Judge Kenner's order was
still in effect at the time of the appellant's entry onto the eleventh floor.
The appellant alternatively claims that, even if the order was legal and in effect, there was insufficient evidence of a willful violation of the order to support his conviction. To convict a defendant of criminal contempt under 18 U.S.C. § 401(3), the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the
defendant willfully violated a lawful order of reasonable
specificity. See United States v. Michaud, 928 F.2d 13, 15 (1st Cir. 1991) (per curiam) . Mourad essentially argues that the district court erred in finding the willfulness element satisfied because there was no evidence of Mourad's intent on May 12, 1999 to violate the order, particularly since he claims he was unaware on that day of whether the order was still in effect. We review the district court's factual findings for clear error. See Winter. 70 F.3d at 659.
The requirement of willfulness contemplates knowledge that one is violating a court order. See United States v. Marouardo, 149 F.3d 36, 43 n.4 (1st Cir. 1998); United States v. Themv-Kotronakis. 140 F.3d 858, 864 (10th Cir. 1998) (defining willfulness as a "volitional act" committed with knowledge or awareness that it is wrongful) . In this case, there was ample evidence to support the district court's finding of willfulness.
Mourad made numerous statements about his intention to be arrested for violation of the order. At the conclusion of the
inkruptcy court hearing on November 30, 1998, the appellant :ated, "I want to go to prison and stay there and go on a hunger ;rike today." He then indicated his wish to be arrested:, "I'm sking you politely to ask the U.S. Marshal to take me away." sputy U.S. Marshal Donaher provided the court with an affidavit, mating that when the appellant arrived on the. eleventh,, floor' of ie O'Neill building on May 12, 1999, he "inform[ed] them that he lew he was not supposed to be present in the Bankruptcy Court," id then told Donaher, while showing him a copy of Chief Judge snner's order, that "he was there to be arrested." In addition, t the hearing before the district court after his arrest, the ppellant stated, "My whole purpose today is to protest Judge enner's action," and that he wanted to stay in jail on a hunger trike to attract national attention. Based on the district ourt' s decision to credit this and other evidence, we find no lear error in its finding that the appellant intentionally and illfully violated Chief Judge Kenner's order. III.
For the reasons stated above, we affirm the appellant's 'riminal contempt conviction for violation of the bankruptcy *ourt's order.
Judgment-Page 2 of 3 ANT: Alphonse Mourad
JMBER: 1:99CR10200-001
defendant shall pay the following total criminal monetary penalties in accordance with the schedule of payments set iheet 5, Part B.
Assessment Fine Restitution Totals: $ 10.00 $ 1,000.00 $
>plicable, restitution amount ordered pursuant to plea agreement......^...... < /' , u ;
e fine includes costs of incarceration and/or supervision in the amount of $ __________.
lefendant shall pay interest on any fine of more than $2,500, unless the fine is paid in full before the fifteenth day late of judgment, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3612(ft. All of the payment options on Sheet 5, Part B may be subject to for default and delinquency pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3612(g).
court determined that the defendant does not have the ability to pay interest and it is ordered that:
The interest requirement is waived. The interest requirement is modified as follows:
determination of restitution is deferred until . An Amended Judgment in a Criminal Case be entered after such a determination. ------------ -
defendant shall make restitution to the following payees in the amounts listed below.
s defendant makes a partial payment, each payee shall receive an approximately proportional payment unless otherwise in the priority order or percentage payment column below.
* Total Amount of or Percentage Payee Amount of Loss Restitution Ordered of Payment
8/96, Sheet 1 - Judgment in a Crimina. Case
®mteb States? SBtetrict Court
(For Offenses Committed On or After November 1,1987) Case Number: 1:99CR10200-001 Paul V. Kelly, Esq.
jed guilty to count(s)
jed nolo contendere to count(s) i was accepted by the court.
found guilty on count(s) _^ a plea of not guilty.
§ 401(3)
Nature of Offense Contempt of Court
Date Offense Count Concluded Numberfs)
05/12/1999 1
lefendant is sentenced as provided in pages 2 through _3^ tencing Reform Act of 1984.
jefendant has been found not guilty on count(s)
of this judgment. The sentence is imposed pursuant
«t(s)	(is)(are) dismissed on the motion of the United States.
FURTHER ORDERED that the defendant shall notify the United States Attorney for this district within 30 days of e of name, residence, or mailing address until all fines, restitution, costs, and special assessments imposed by this we fully paid.
Soc. Sec. No.: 034-32-0832
Date of Birth: 04/03/1946 USM No.: 22592-038
Reginald C. Lindsay U.S. District Judge
Name & Title of Judicial Officw
Judgment-Page 3 of 3 3ANT: Alphonse Mourad
UMBER: 1:99CR10200-001
lei-its shall be applied in the following order (1) assessment; (2) restitution; (3) fine principal; (4) cost of prosecution;
ist; (6) penalties.
'ment of the total fine and other criminal monetary penalties shall be due as follows:
in full immediately; or
$ ________ immediately, balance due (in accordance with C, D, or E); or , ,
hot later than ______; or
in installments to commence ___ day(s) after the date of this judgment. In the event the entire amount of criminal monetary penalties imposed is not paid prior to the commencement of supervision, the U.S. probation officer shall pursue collection of the amount due, and shall request the court to establish a payment schedule if appropriate; or
in ___________ (e.g. equal, weekly, monthly, quarterly) installments of $ ________
over a period of ____ year(s) to commence ____ day(s) after the date of this judgment.
efendant will receive credit for all payments previously made toward any criminal monetary penalties imposed. istructions regarding the payment of criminal monetary penalties:
.hall be paid immediately or according to a court ordered repayment schedule.
s to be continued to be paid until the full amount has been paid.
idant shall notify the United States Attorney for this district within 30 days of any change of mailing or residence iat occurs while any portion of the fine remains unpaid.
defendant shall pay the cost of prosecution.
defendant shall forfeit the defendant's interest in the following property to the United States:
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