Case Name: Bill WYSSBROD d/b/a W.W. Companies v. Jackson H. WITTJEN and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi; Martin Aussenberg v. Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi; Omar D. Craig, Bill Wyssbrod d/b/a W.W. Companies and Martin Aussenberg v. Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 2001-02-08
Citations: 798 So. 2d 352
Docket Number: Nos. 1999-CA-00549-SCT, 1999-CA-00777-SCT, 1999-CA-01461-SCT
Parties: Bill WYSSBROD d/b/a W.W. Companies v. Jackson H. WITTJEN and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi. Martin Aussenberg v. Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi. Omar D. Craig, Bill Wyssbrod d/b/a W.W. Companies and Martin Aussenberg v. Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Judges: BANKS, P.J., WALLER and DIAZ, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 798
Pages: 352–374

Head Matter:
Bill WYSSBROD d/b/a W.W. Companies v. Jackson H. WITTJEN and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi. Martin Aussenberg v. Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi. Omar D. Craig, Bill Wyssbrod d/b/a W.W. Companies and Martin Aussenberg v. Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Nos. 1999-CA-00549-SCT, 1999-CA-00777-SCT, 1999-CA-01461-SCT.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Feb. 8, 2001.
James Welch, Omar D. Craig, Oxford, for Appellant.
William P. Myers, Robert P. Chamber-lin, Hernando, for Appellees.

Opinion:
SMITH, Justice,
for the Court:
¶ 1. This case comes to this Court on appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court of DeSoto County wherein Omar D. Craig and Martin Aussenberg represented Quality Pallets, Inc. and William Wyssbrod in a civil action against Jackson H. Wittjen and First State Bank of Holly Springs of DeSoto County. Circuit Judge George B. Ready sanctioned Aussenberg for failing to appear at a scheduled status hearing. The circuit court awarded attorney's fees and expenses to the defendants to be paid by Wyssbrod and Aussenberg pursuant to the Litigation Accountability Act. The trial court also found that Aussenberg and Craig were paid with corporate funds without corporate approval and ordered them to disgorge their fees. Craig, Aussenberg, and Wyssbrod have appealed to this Court, and the three appeals have been consolidated.
¶ 2. We affirm the circuit court's sanctions against Aussenberg, but reduce the award in accordance with Miss.Code Ann. § 9-1-17 (Supp.2000). We affirm the lower circuit court's award of attorney fees and expenses under the Litigation Accountability Act. But, we reverse and render the judgment against Aussenberg and Craig for disgorgement of corporate funds.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
¶ 3. In order to review the basis for the various orders and judgments appealed in this case, it is necessary to detail the complex and labored history of both the underlying case and the sanctions proceedings. The factual background in this case is as follows:
¶ 4. On November 1, 1994, William Wyssbrod and Jack Wittjen entered into a pre-incorporation agreement to form Quality Pallets, Inc. ("QPI"). Wyssbrod and Wittjen were the two major shareholders of QPI, each owning fifty percent of the shares outstanding, and Wyssbrod was president of the corporation. According to the pre-incorporation agreement, QPI was to be managed by W.W. Companies, Inc. ("WWC"), a sole proprietorship owned by Wyssbrod. A bank account was maintained at First State Bank of Holly Springs on behalf of QPI.
¶ 5. The pre-incorporation agreement provided that Wittjen would "provide working capital of approximately $6,000 cash, $60,000 accounts receivable, and additional monies at his discretion, necessary to get the business started until [QPI had] its own working capital to run or [could] borrow money on its own without having to ask for the signature of Jack Wittjen." The cause of action asserted by Wyssbrod arose from Wittjen's agreement to provide working capital for the new corporation, in which Wittjen allegedly agreed to cover checks on behalf of QPI when there were insufficient funds in QPI's account at First State Bank. Wittjen initially covered bad checks written on the account, but then gave notice to Wyssbrod that he would no longer cover bad checks by letter dated May 5,1995.
¶6. On June 19, 1995, Wyssbrod, individually and derivatively on behalf of QPI and WWC, filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of DeSoto County against Wittjen and First State Bank. The complaint alleged tortious breach of contract, bad faith, and interference with business relations and requested that the circuit court enjoin First State Bank from returning checks issued on QPI's account and Wittjen from refusing to fund the overdrafts.
¶ 7. On June 20, 1995, the circuit court issued the requested temporary restraining order, but because Wyssbrod failed to post the $8,000 bond, the restraining order never took effect. The restraining order was dissolved by agreement of the parties and an order entered on July 10, 1995.
¶ 8. At the time the initial complaint was filed, the plaintiffs were represented by Martin H. Aussenberg, a member of the Tennessee bar. Leigh A. Rutherford served as Mississippi counsel for the plaintiffs until November 1995, when Sidney Beck was substituted for Rutherford. Beck requested and was allowed to withdraw in January 1996, and was replaced by Omar D. Craig.
¶ 9. An amended complaint was later filed, naming QPI and WWC as plaintiffs. Wyssbrod was not listed as a plaintiff on the second complaint. On June 10, 1996, a third and final amended complaint was filed naming QPI and Wyssbrod, d/b/a WWC, as plaintiffs. Wittjen asserted a counterclaim for dissolution of QPI, and First State Bank counterclaimed against QPI and Wyssbrod for recovery of the amounts of the overdrafts.
¶ 10. On October 18, 1996, the circuit court entered a scheduling order in which it directed QPI, through Wyssbrod, to report all business transactions of QPI to Wittjen's counsel on fourteen-day intervals. By order dated January 16, 1997, the court found that Wyssbrod had failed to provide a current set of corporate records as previously ordered by the court. The court found Wyssbrod in contempt and entered sanctions against him in the amount of $1,000. The court stated that the sanctions were to be paid from Wyss-brod's personal funds and not from the funds of QPI.
¶ 11. On January 27, 1997, the court ordered that the parties and counsel appear for a status conference on January 30, 1997. On January 30, 1997, Wyssbrod filed a motion for relief from the order sanctioning Wyssbrod. Wyssbrod also filed, on that same day, a Motion to Dismiss Complaint and Counterclaims based on the filing of a bankruptcy petition by QPI that morning. The status conference was held despite the filing of the bankruptcy petition. Aussenberg did not appear at the conference. The court found that its previous sanctions against Wyssbrod were more appropriately placed on Aussenberg. The court then ordered that Aussenberg, rather than Wyssbrod, pay the $1,000 in sanctions. Pursuant to the court's order of February 18, 1997, the case was stayed pending the outcome of the bankruptcy proceedings.
¶ 12. On April 1, 1998, the bankruptcy court entered an Order and Notice of Dismissal of Adversary Proceeding of State Court Actions Removed to U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Abandonment of Property. The order dismissed the suit of QPI against Wittjen and First State Bank and assigned any remaining claims of QPI to Wittjen. The action proceeded in the circuit court in September 1998.
¶ 13. Wittjen and First State Bank filed motions for summary judgment. On January 5, 1999, the circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of Wittjen and First State Bank. The court noted that all claims of QPI against Wittjen and First State Bank were dismissed by order of the bankruptcy court. The court dismissed with prejudice all claims of Wyssbrod against Wittjen and First State Bank. The court entered judgment in favor of First State Bank on its counterclaim against Wyssbrod. The court awarded First State Bank attorney's fees and expenses pursuant to the contract between the parties and awarded the same to Wittjen pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 79-4-7.46 (1996), stating that the action was without reasonable cause. The court found that Wyss-brod's complaints were filed without substantial justification entitling Wittjen and First State Bank to recover attorney's fees and expenses pursuant to the Litigation Accountability Act of 1988, Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-5(1) (Supp.2000). The court also stated that Wyssbrod had no authority to expend corporate funds to retain counsel for the benefit of the corporation or for himself individually and found that Wittjen was entitled to judgment against Wyss-brod in an amount equal to the corporate funds expended to pay attorney's fees.
¶ 14. The court held a hearing on January 19, 1999, to determine the reasonable and necessary expenses and attorney's fees incurred by Wittjen and First State Bank and to determine whether Wyss-brod's attorneys should be personally liable for any of the fees and expenses. In the resulting order of the court, the court considered each factor of Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-7 and concluded that Wyssbrod and Aussenberg should be jointly and severally liable to First State Bank and Wittjen for attorney's fees and expenses because the Third Amended Complaint was filed without substantial justification. Fees and expenses were awarded to First State Bank in the amount of $25,724.38 and to Wittjen in the amount of $47,870.64.
¶ 15. The court also entered judgment against Wyssbrod in the amount of $43,212.75, representing the amount of corporate funds expended by Wyssbrod without corporate authority. The court held Wyssbrod jointly and severally liable to Wittjen, who had been assigned the claims of QPI by the bankruptcy court, along with Aussenberg, Craig, and Beck for the amounts received by each as attorney's fees: Aussenberg in the amount of $27,662.42, Craig in the amount of $14,550.30, and Beck in the amount of $1,000.
¶ 16. Wyssbrod, Aussenberg, and Craig timely filed notices of appeal from the final judgment of the circuit court. The appeals have been consolidated, and the issues raised by Aussenberg and Craig are set out below:
I. THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN AWARDING SANCTIONS AGAINST AUSSENBERG.
II. THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES AND EXPENSES AGAINST AUSSENBERG PURSUANT TO THE LITIGATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
III. THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN ENTERING JUDGMENT AGAINST AUSSENBERG AND CRAIG FOR CORPORATE FUNDS PAID TO THEM AS ATTORNEY'S FEES.
Wyssbrod has filed no brief with this Court. In fact, Wyssbrod has filed a letter with this Court stating that he does not wish to file an appeal. No arguments have been made to this Court on Wyssbrod's behalf, and none are here considered.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶ 17. This Court reviews a trial court's imposition of sanctions for abuse of discretion. Kinard v. Morgan, 679 So.2d 623, 625 (Miss.1996) (citing Cooper v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 568 So.2d 687, 692 (Miss.1990); Brown v. Arlen Management Corp., 663 F.2d 575, 580 (5th Cir.1981)). In the absence of a " 'definite and firm conviction that the court below committed a clear error of judgment in the conclusion it reached upon weighing of relevant factors,' " the judgment of the court's imposition of sanctions will be affirmed. Id. Likewise, a trial court's decision to award attorney's fees pursuant to the Litigation Accountability Act is subject to the abuse of discretion standard of review. Terex Corp. v. Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc., 671 So.2d 1316, 1324 (Miss.1996). See also Bank of Mississippi v. Southern Mem'l Park, Inc., 677 So.2d 186, 191 (Miss.1996) (citing Barber v. Barber, 234 Miss. 89, 105 So.2d 680 (1958)).
DISCUSSION
I. WHETHER THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN AWARDING SANCTIONS AGAINST AUSSEN-BERG.
¶ 18. On February 20, 1996, Wittjen filed a motion to compel discovery to interrogatories and requests for production. On October 18, 1996, the circuit court ordered QPI, through Wyssbrod, to report all business transactions of QPI to Wittjen on fourteen-day intervals. Wyss-brod failed to provide a current set of corporate records as ordered by the court, and the circuit judge, by order dated January 16, 1997, found Wyssbrod in willful contempt of court and entered sanctions against him in the amount of $1,000. The order stated that the sanctions were to be paid from Wyssbrod's personal funds rather than the funds of QPI.
¶ 19. On behalf of Wyssbrod, Aussen-berg filed a motion for relief from the order granting sanctions against Wyss-brod. To the motion, Aussenberg attached a letter written by him to the circuit court contesting the sanctions. The court ordered "all parties and counsel" to appear at a status conference on January 30,1997, for the purpose of addressing the issues raised in Aussenberg's letter. Aussenberg failed to attend the status conference, despite the order of the court. He notified Craig by telephone that he had filed QPI's bankruptcy petition the morning of the status conference and that to attend the status conference would be a violation of the automatic stay. Aussenberg also notified the court of the bankruptcy filing and stated that he would not attend the status conference. The circuit court administrator informed Aussenberg by telephone the morning of the hearing that the circuit judge intended for him to attend the hearing despite the filing of the bankruptcy petition.
¶ 20. The status conference was held, despite the absence of Aussenberg. At the conference, the circuit judge stated that the filing of the bankruptcy petition would not stay proceedings unrelated to the debt. The court found Aussenberg in contempt of court for failure to appear at the hearing. The court rescinded the $1,000 sanction initially placed upon Wyss-brod, and entered a sanction of $1,000 against Aussenberg.
¶ 21. Aussenberg argues that there is insufficient evidence in the record to justify the circuit court's imposition of the $1,000 sanction against him because Wyss-brod's failure to comply with the court's discovery orders was not due to any culpability on his part. Aussenberg's argument centers around the following statements by the circuit judge at the status conference:
[L]et me state for the record that it is clear to this Court that Mr. Aussenberg and Mr. Aussenberg alone has counseled and advised his client throughout this entire matter to do everything he could to avoid the orders of the Court, to avoid complying with discovery even after being directed to do so while having motion to compel discovery hearings.... But Mr. Aussenberg has always tried to find a way to go around what the Court has ordered to try to keep one foot in the boundaries of legality and the ethics required of him but yet evade and avoid everything the Court has ordered to do. He filed this action, but then he has done everything he can to keep this from coming to a conclusion and having the Court decide anything.... I believe that Mr. Aussenberg's contempt is direct, direct and continuing to this Court....
¶ 22. Aussenberg maintains that there is no evidence in the record which suggests that he had any part in counseling his client to disobey the court's discovery orders. Aussenberg points to Wyssbrod's testimony at a January 19,1999, hearing in which Wyssbrod stated that Aussenberg never advised him not to deliver any records. In his contention that there is no evidence in the record indicating that he counseled his client to disobey discovery orders, Aussenberg is correct. Nevertheless, Aussenberg overlooks the grounds on which the circuit court ultimately sanctioned him. Regardless of the language of the circuit judge regarding Aussenberg's part in Wyssbrod's disregard of the court's discovery order, the order of the circuit court entered pursuant to the status conference clearly states:
The hearing was scheduled to address issues raised by Martin Aussenberg in his letter addressed to the Court dated January 24, 1997. Previous to the hearing, the Court was advised by Martin Aussenberg that a bankruptcy petition had been filed in the Bankruptcy Court of the Western District of Tennessee on behalf of Quality Pallets, Inc. Even though the Court, through the Court Administrator, advised Martin Aussen-berg to attend the hearing, he chose not to do so under the guise of the bankruptcy filing. This Court does not believe that Martin Aussenberg had a valid reason for failing to appear at the hearing of this cause, and, therefore, finds him in direct contempt of this Court for his failure to appear,
(emphasis added). Based-upon this finding, the court rescinded the $1,000 sanction placed upon Wyssbrod and placed it upon Aussenberg.
¶23. The imposition of punishment for contempt of court is within the discretion of the trial court. Gebetsberger v. East, 627 So.2d 823, 826 (Miss.1993). Mississippi law clearly supports a court's power to sanction an attorney or party for violation of court orders, and, more specifically, for failure to appear as ordered by the court. See Alviers v. City of Bay St. Louis, 576 So.2d 1256 (Miss.1991); Wolf v. State, 260 So.2d 425, 433 (Miss.1972). See also Miss.Code Ann. § 9-1-17 (Supp.2000); U.R.C.C.C. 1.03 & 3.02. Nothing in the record suggests that the circuit court released Aussenberg from his obligation to appear in the circuit court the afternoon of the status conference. In fact, the court administrator informed Aussenberg that the judge expected him at the status hearing, despite the bankruptcy filing that morning.
¶ 24. Aussenberg argues that the circuit court erred by proceeding with the status conference. Aussenberg contends that the automatic stay in effect upon the filing of the bankruptcy petition precluded the circuit court from proceeding with the conference and, apparently, from entering sanctions against Aussenberg. See 11 U.S.C.A. § 362(a) (filing of bankruptcy petition operates as stay against enforcement of judgment or proceedings against debtor or against estate property). Interestingly, Aussenberg apparently wished the circuit court to acknowledge the automatic stay in regard to the status conference, but to disregard it in regard to the motion to dismiss filed on the same day by QPI. See Pope v. Manville Forest Prods. Corp., 778 F.2d 238, 239 (5th Cir.1985) (automatic stay precludes the court from dismissing the proceeding).
¶25. We conclude that Aussen-berg's view of the automatic stay is overly expansive. The purpose of the automatic stay is to prevent a race to the courthouse to obtain the debtor's assets, and the scope of the stay should be construed no more broadly than necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stay. In re Continental Air Lines, Inc., 61 B.R. 758 (S.D.Tex.1986). Though the circuit court stayed all progression in this case subsequent to the hearing at issue, the automatic stay imposed by § 362 did not necessarily preclude the court from holding the hearing regarding Wyssbrod's discovery violations.
¶ 26. The automatic stay does not stay the entire proceeding where the debtor is one of several defendants. Neubauer v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 26 B.R. 644 (E.D.Wis.1983). The stay generally does not protect persons other than the debtor, such as principals and officers, and does not protect non-bankruptcy co-defendants of the debtor. See Fortier v. Dona Anna Plaza Partners, 747 F.2d 1324 (10th Cir.1984) (does not protect codefendants); Lynch v. Johns-Manville Sales Corp., 710 F.2d 1194, 1196-97 (6th Cir. 1983) (same); In re Philadelphia Gold Corp., 56 B.R. 87 (Bankr.E.D.Pa.1985) (does not protect principals); In re Nashville Album Productions, Inc., 33 B.R. 123 (M.D.Tenn.1983) (does not protect officers). The hearing at issue was held to determine the propriety of sanctions against Wyssbrod, not the debtor in bankruptcy, QPI. The court's order specifically stated that the discovery sanctions were to be paid from Wyssbrod's personal funds, not those of the corporation. Furthermore, the sanctions for contempt at issue here were imposed against Aussenberg, not Wyssbrod nor QPI.
¶ 27. Actions stayed do not include contempt proceedings arising out of disobedience to a state court order made prior to the stay. In re Dumas, 19 B.R. 676, 677 (B.A.P. 9th Cir.Ariz.1982). An act committed in disregard of a court order is a contempt of that court and is within the inherent power of the court to punish. Purvis v. Purvis, 657 So.2d 794, 798 (Miss.1995) (citing Melvin v. State, 210 Miss. 132, 148, 48 So.2d 856 (1950)). Aus-senberg knowingly disregarded a court order. He had notice of the hearing before the circuit court and was, in fact, informed by the court administrator the morning of the hearing that the court expected his presence regardless of the bankruptcy petition. He also had notice, prior to the hearing, that the court would not recognize as valid his explanation for not attending the hearing.
¶28. Aussenberg also contends that he was not given notice as to the possibility of sanctions being assessed against him. Aussenberg argues that by summarily sanctioning him for contempt, the circuit judge violated Canon 3(A)(4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which provides that "[a] judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or his lawyer, full right to be heard according to law...."
¶ 29. This Court has held that where the contemptuous act is direct — that is, where it occurs within the presence of the court — the court is empowered to punish the actor summarily, but where the act is constructive — that is, the act occurred outside the presence of the court — the court must give the contemnor the procedural protections of notice and a fair hearing. Lawson v. State, 573 So.2d 684, 686 (Miss.1990); Varvaris v. State, 512 So.2d 886, 887 (Miss.1987); Jordan v. State, 216 Miss. 542, 62 So.2d 886 (1953).
¶ 30. Courts are divided as to whether an attorney's absence is best characterized as contempt in the presence of the court, otherwise known as direct contempt. United States v. Nunez, 801 F.2d 1260, 1264 (11th Cir.1986). See also John E. Theuman, Annotation, Attorney's Failure to Attend Court, or Tardiness, as Contempt, 13 A.L.R.4th 122 (1982). This Court has held that a party's failure to appear in court at the appointed time constitutes constructive contempt. Murrell v. State, 655 So.2d 881, 887 (Miss.1995); Wolf v. State, 260 So.2d 425, 433 (Miss.1972). Likewise, the Fifth Circuit has held that the failure of a lawyer to appear for a trial is not a contempt committed in the presence of the court. Smith v. Smith, 145 F.3d 335, 342 (5th Cir.1998) (citing Nunez, 801 F.2d at 1264). The Ninth Circuit has held that ordinarily an attorney's absence is contempt outside the presence of the court because "the contempt consists not in the absence from the courtroom but in the reasons for the attorney's presence elsewhere, and the presence elsewhere was, of course, not in the actual presence of the Court." In re Allis, 531 F.2d 1391, 1392 (9th Cir.1976). See also Thyssen, Inc. v. S/S Chuen On, 693 F.2d 1171, 1175 (5th Cir.1982); United States v. Delahanty, 488 F.2d 396, 398 (6th Cir.1973).
¶ 31. Nevertheless, in the circumstances as they exist in the case at hand, Aussenberg's failure to attend the status conference was properly punished summarily. In Smith, the Fifth Circuit explained that in narrowly defined circumstances, an attorney's absence may be punished without the benefit of notice and a separate hearing. The Court stated, "In Thyssen, we noted that there may be a 'hypothetical exception' to the general rule that absence can be punished only through Rule 42(b) when the reason for the absence or tardiness is 'known to the court.' " Id. (citing Thyssen, 693 F.2d at 1175). "We explained that this could occur because '[c]ounsel may advise the court that he will not appear for a certain reason, or he may advise the court why he was absent.' " Id. (citing Thyssen at 1175; United States v. Baldwin, 770 F.2d 1550, 1555 (11th Cir.1985) (upholding use of summary contempt procedures where the attorney, prior to his absence "told the court why he would not be present on April 17, and that he was refusing to obey a court order")).
¶ 32. Aussenberg telephoned the court the morning of the conference and advised the court that he would not attend the conference as ordered. The court administrator informed Aussenberg that the judge expected him to attend the conference and that Aussenberg's reason for not attending the conference would not be recognized as valid by the court. This is distinguishable from instances where an attorney merely fails to appear, which is generally held to be constructive contempt. See Murrell, 655 So.2d at 891 (Pittman, J., dissenting). Procedural protections are provided in cases of constructive contempt because the actions constituting the contempt are not within the knowledge of the court. Varvaris v. State, 512 So.2d at 887-88. Under the facts of this particular case, however, Aussenberg's actions and reasons for his actions were known to the court. The circuit court correctly characterized these actions as direct contempt. As Justice Pittman stated in Murrell, "[t]o hold otherwise would encroach upon the court's inherent authority to hold a person in contempt of court for .violation of court orders." Id. Therefore, Aussenberg was not entitled to formal notice or a separate evidentiary hearing.
¶ 33. Aussenberg also contends that, should this Court find that the circuit court did not err in ordering sanctions, it should nevertheless find that the sanctions are excessive in fight of Miss.Code Ann. § 9-1-17 (Supp.2000), which states in pertinent part:
The Supreme, circuit, chancery and county courts and the Court of Appeals shall have power to fine and imprison any person guilty of contempt of the court while sitting, but the fine shall not exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each offense, nor shall the imprisonment continue longer than thirty. (30) days....
This Court has held that the limits of § 9-1-17 apply only where the sanction is imposed for direct contempt and that the limits do not apply to constructive contempt. Wood v. State, 227 So.2d at 290 (Miss.1969) (citing Melvin v. State, 210 Miss. 132, 48 So.2d 856 (1950)). Since Aussenberg's actions are best characterized as direct contempt, the sanctions imposed by the circuit court must be reduced to the $100 limitation found in § 9-1-17.
II. WHETHER THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES AND EXPENSES PURSUANT TO THE LITIGATION ACCOUNTABILITY ACT AGAINST AUSSEN-BERG.
¶ 34. The Litigation Accountability Act of 1988, Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-1 et seq. (Supp.2000), provides that a court shall award reasonable attorney's fees and costs against any party or attorney upon finding that "an attorney or party brought an action, or asserted any claim or defense, that is without substantial justification, or that the action, or any claim or defense asserted, was interposed for delay or harassment...." Id. § 11-55-5(1) The fees and costs may be assessed against the offending attorneys or parties, or both. Id. § 11-55-5(3). The Act defines "without substantial justification" as "frivolous, groundless in fact or in law, or vexatious, as determined by the court." Id. § 11 — 55— 3(a). When reviewing a trial court's decision regarding the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the Litigation Accountability Act, this Court is limited by the abuse of discretion standard. Leaf River Forest Prods., Inc. v. Deakle, 661 So.2d 188, 197 (Miss.1995).
¶ 36. In its order granting the motions for summary judgment filed by Wittjen and First State Bank, the circuit court found that the Third Amended Complaint and the complaints filed by Wyssbrod pri- or to the Third Amended Complaint were filed without substantial justification. The court concluded that Wittjen and First State Bank were entitled to recover their litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, pursuant to the Litigation Accountability Act. The circuit court then held a hearing to determine the amount of expenses and fees incurred by Wittjen and First State Bank and to determine whether Wyssbrod's attorneys should be personally liable for any of the fees and expenses.
¶ 36. In a detailed order entered February 23, 1999, the court examined each factor listed in § 11-65-7 to be considered by a court in determining an award under the Litigation Accountability Act. The court concluded that the Third Amended Complaint was filed without substantial justification. The court awarded First State Bank attorney's fees and expenses in the amount of $25,724.38, and awarded Wittjen attorney's fees and expenses in the amount of $47,870.64. The court held Wyssbrod and Aussenberg jointly and severally liable for these amounts.
¶ 37. Aussenberg first contends that the circuit court abused its discretion in concluding that the action was frivolous. Specifically, Aussenberg argues that the trial court erred in determining that the first factor set forth in § 11-55-7 was satisfied. Section 11-55-7 provides:
In determining the amount of an award of costs or attorney's fees, the court shall exercise its sound discretion. When granting an award of costs and attorney's fees, the court shall specifically set forth the reasons for such award and shall consider the following factors, among others, in determining whether to assess attorney's fees and costs and the amount to be assessed:
(a) The extent to which any effort was made to determine the validity of any action, claim or defense before it was asserted, and the time remaining within which the claim or defense could be filed;
(b) The extent of any effort made after the commencement of an action to reduce the number of claims being asserted or to dismiss claims that have been found not to be valid;
(c) The availability of facts to assist in determining the validity of an action, claim or defense;
(d) Whether or not the action was prosecuted or defended, in whole or in part, in bad faith or for improper purpose;
(e) Whether or not issues of fact, determinative of the validity of a party's claim or defense, we reasonably in conflict;
(f) The extent to which the party prevailed with respect to the amount and number of claims or defenses in controversy;
(g) The extent to which any action, claim or defense was asserted by any attorney or party in a good faith attempt to establish a new theory of law in the state, which purpose was made known to the court at the time of filing;
(h) The amount or conditions of any offer of judgment or settlement in relation to the amount or conditions of the ultimate relief granted by the court;
(i) The extent to which a reasonable effort was made to determine prior to the time of filing of an action or claim that all parties sued or joined were proper parties owing a legally defined duty to any party or parties asserting the claim or action;
(j) The extent of any effort made after the commencement of an action to reduce the number of parties in the action; and
(k) The period of time available to the attorney for the party asserting any defense before such defense was interposed.
Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-7 (Supp.2000).
¶ 38. The circuit court's order details the court's findings on each factor. Regarding the first factor ("the extent to which any effort was made to determine the validity of any action, claim or defense before it was asserted, and the time remaining within which the claim or defense could be filed"), the circuit court stated:
The court finds that the record is absent any evidence that either Wyssbrod or Aussenberg exercised sufficient effort to determine the validity of the claims before they were asserted. The event that triggered the beginning of the statute of limitations time period was the letter of May 5, 1995 whereby Wittjen withdrew his agreement to cover the overdrafts. The lawsuit was filed on June 19, 1995. There was no time constraint that prevented Wyssbrod and Aussenberg from fully investigating the validity of the claim. There was absolutely no emergency situation existed at the time of filing suit. The lack of an emergency need for filing the lawsuit was further evident by the failure of the claimant to post the bond necessary to implement the TRO he had requested. The TRO was sought to prevent First State Bank from bouncing checks. The irreparable harm was alleged to be the loss of suppliers of materials that QPI needed to build pallets. On the one hand, QPI had sufficient funds to buy materials without writing bad checks on the First State Bank account and on the other hand, the evidence in this case failed to produce any instant in Which QPI was unable to buy materials just as it had been able to do prior to May 5,1995.
¶ 39. Aussenberg contends that he exercised reasonable skill and care in investigating the facts and circumstances of the claims of QPI prior to filing the action. Aussenberg states that he reviewed the pre-incorporation agreement entered into between Wittjen and Wyssbrod, the corporation's charter, minutes of board meetings, and bank records. From these documents Aussenberg maintains that he determined that Wittjen had breached the incorporation agreement and that such had negatively affected QPI's operations. This argument is specious. . Regarding Wittjen's obligations under the pre-incor-poration agreement, the agreement provides only that Wittjen would "provide working capital of $6,000 cash, $60,0000 accounts receivable, and additional monies at his discretion, necessary to get the business started until it has its own working capital to run or can borrow money on its own...." Without question, Wittjen provided the cash and accounts receivable, and such is undisputed by Wyssbrod. There is absolutely no provision in the pre-incorporation agreement or in any other documents contained in the record and reviewed by Aussenberg obligating Wittjen to fund overdrafts on the First State Bank account. Even assuming an oral agreement to do so, the pre-incorpo-ration agreement provides that Wittjen was to supply additional funds "at his discretion." Wyssbrod himself testified by deposition that the written agreement contains all terms and conditions of the agreement between Wyssbrod and Wittjen and that Wittjen negotiated for the "at his discretion" language because he did not want the obligation to be open ended. As the circuit court concluded, there was simply no question of fact existing at the time summary judgment was granted or at the time the third complaint was filed on June 10, 1996, more than one year after the action was initiated, that Wittjen's decision to cease funding the overdrafts constituted a breach of contract or of fiduciary duty.
¶ 40. Wyssbrod maintained that Wittjen was obligated, by the pre-incorpo-ration agreement, to provide working capital by funding overdrafts as long as the company needed capital infusion. It is evident, however, from Wyssbrod's deposition testimony and the very bank statements Aussenberg claims he examined pri- or to filing the complaint that at the time Wittjen stopped funding the overdrafts, there were sufficient funds in QPI's account at the Bank of Mississippi to fund the overdrafts and to keep the corporation up and running. All relevant facts were readily available to Aussenberg prior to the filing of the lawsuit.
¶ 41. Aussenberg unconvincingly argues that the facts developed during discovery bore out many of the allegations of the complaint. The foremost indication of the lack of foundation to any of Wyss-brod's or QPI's claims rests in the deposition of Wyssbrod, taken one month after the third complaint was filed. From the deposition testimony, it is clear that Aus-senberg had no idea at the time of the deposition, and even less at the time the complaint was filed, the damages allegedly suffered by his client by Wittjen's refusal to fund the overdrafts. For instance, the following exchange occurred between defense counsel and Wyssbrod:
Q. What I want you to tell me is what it is that Bill Wyssbrod who filed the lawsuit against Jack Wittjen expects to recover from Jack Wittjen.
A. Personal losses, company losses.
Q. Tell me what those are.
A. Monetary losses due to loss of business.
Q. Be specific about what those monetary losses are.
A. Well, when you lose business, you lose money, and that's about as specific as I can get.
Wyssbrod stated that he lost no employees or customers as a result of Wittjen's alleged interference. The supplier Aussen-berg claims he interviewed prior to filing the complaint, Golden Timber, did not stop supplying QPI because of the bounced checks. Rather, as shown through the supplier's deposition, Golden Timber stopped supplying QPI when QPI failed to comply with the C.O.D. requirements of that company — requirements imposed on all businesses to which Golden Timber supplies products.
¶ 42. Aussenberg also maintains that Leigh Ann Rutherford, the first Mississippi attorney associated by Aussenberg in this action, failed to advise him that QPI did not have a viable cause of action. Appearing pro hac vice does not relieve Aus-senberg of the responsibility to , conduct reasonable investigation into the facts and law supporting actions filed by him in the courts of this state. This Court concludes that this is a rather lame attempt to "pass the buck."
¶ 43. Also telling of Aussenberg's lack of preparation is the fact that he filed a complaint on behalf of company which was later determined not to be a legal entity, hence the amendment made to the second complaint, as well as the fact that he arrived at Wyssbrod's deposition without having read the third amended complaint and being unaware that he was representing Wyssbrod individually.
¶ 44. Furthermore, Aussenberg challenges only the circuit court's findings re- gar ding § ll-55-7(a) and does not contest the trial court's findings on any of the other factors. The court found against Aussenberg and his client on each and every factor listed in § 11-55-7, save that of (k), which the court determined was not applicable in this case. The circuit judge did all that he was required to do and found that Aussenberg was in violation of the Litigation Accountability Act. Based on this record, this Court cannot say that the circuit judge abused his discretion. This assignment of error is meritless.
¶ 45. Aussenberg's second attack on the circuit court's award of attorney's fees and expenses rests on the fact that he was not representing Wyssbrod or QPI at the time the expenses and fees were awarded. On January 30, 1997, the day of the status hearing discussed in issue one, Aussenberg informed the court that given the bankruptcy filing, QPI had chosen other counsel and no longer required Aussen-berg's services. Aussenberg stated in the facsimile to the court, "Consequently, I consider that I have, been discharged as counsel in the above matter." At the hearing, the circuit judge stated, "I would certainly leap upon this opportunity that Mr. Aussenberg has given me, and Mr. Aus-senberg's admission is terminated, voluntarily I might add, because he has informed this Court that he is no longer employed by Quality Pallets. Therefore, he will no longer be representing Quality Pallets and Mr. Wyssbrod in this court." In the order entered pursuant to the status conference, the circuit court rescinded Aussenberg's authority to practice law in the court pro hac vice and dismissed him from further responsibility to the plaintiffs.
¶ 46. Aussenberg asserts that the circuit court lacked personal jurisdiction over him for purposes of the award of attorney's fees and expenses since he was neither a party to the action nor counsel of record. Aussenberg contends that in order for the circuit court to properly enter a judgment against him for fees and expenses, it was essential that he receive service of process.
¶47. Wittjen argues that Aussenberg submitted to the jurisdiction of the court by appearing as counsel on behalf of the plaintiffs. Wittjen cites M.R.A.P. 46(b)(2), which states:
A foreign attorney appearing as counsel pro hac vice before the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals or any court or administrative agency of this state shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state in any matter arising out of the attorney's conduct in such proceedings. The attorney shall study and comply with the standards of professional conduct required of members of the Mississippi Bar and shall be subject to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the courts of this state, of the disciplinary tribunals of the Mississippi Bar, and of the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions with respect to any acts occurring during the course of such appearance.
Furthermore, M.R.A.P. 46(d) provides as follows:
Every petition motion, brief, or other paper filed by a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's individual name, whose address shall be stated. The appellate court may, after reasonable notice and an opportunity to show cause to the contrary, and after hearing, if requested by the attorney, take any appropriate disciplinary action against any attorney who practices before it for conduct unbecoming a member of the bar, or for failure to comply with these rules or any order of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, or for filing any frivolous petition, brief, or other paper.
¶48. At the hearing regarding attorney's fees and sanctions, the circuit judge stated that he directed that Aussenberg be given notice of the hearing "because he could be potentially hit with a great deal of responsibility here." Wittjen's counsel responded that he had sent Aussenberg a copy of the order granting summary judgment and the order setting the hearing by both regular mail and certified mail. Wittjen's counsel had with him the signed return receipt, and Wittjen's counsel stated that he had sent a copy of the receipt via facsimile to Aussenberg's office. Aus-senberg made no reply.
¶49. Clearly, Aussenberg had actual notice of the order granting summary judgment and the evidentiary hearing regarding the attorney's fees and expenses. He chose not to respond. The rules regarding disciplinary action against attorneys practicing before the court clearly contemplate that no formal service of process is necessary, but rather that by appearing before the court in a matter, attorneys submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the court for disciplinary purposes under the rules of court for matters arising out of their representation.
¶ 50. The cases relied upon by Aussenberg, Rice v. McMullen, 207 Miss. 706, 43 So.2d 195 (1949), and Burns v. Burns, 133 Miss. 485, 97 So. 814 (1923), both involved original actions against non-resident defendants. The claim for recovery of attorney fees asserted by Wittjen is not an original action, but arises out of the actions of Aussenberg committed during the time he was an attorney in this case. As Wittjen asserts, Aussenberg received notice of Wittjen's claim, by mail, the same as he would have received had he remained an attorney in the case. We find this assignment of error is without merit.
III. WHETHER THE CIRCUIT COURT ERRED IN ENTERING JUDGMENTS AGAINST AUS-SENBERG AND CRAIG FOR CORPORATE FUNDS PAID TO THEM AS ATTORNEY'S FEES.
¶ 51. In his motion for summary judgment, Wittjen argued that Wyssbrod had expended corporate funds for the prosecution of the action without corporate authority. Wittjen argued that he was thus entitled to a judgment against Wyss-brod for all corporate funds expended as attorney's fees. Wittjen also argued that he was entitled to recover all corporate funds paid to Wyssbrod's attorneys from the attorneys themselves.
¶ 52. In its order granting summary judgment in favor of Wittjen and First State Bank, the circuit court found that Wyssbrod had no authority to expend corporate funds to prosecute this action either for the benefit of QPI or for himself individually. The court concluded that Wittjen was entitled to a judgment against Wyssbrod in an amount equal to the corporate funds expended to pay the plaintiffs' attorneys. Subsequent to the evidentiary hearing on attorney's fees and expenses, the court held that Wittjen was entitled to judgment against Wyssbrod in the amount of $43,212.75, the amount of corporate funds expended by Wyssbrod to pay the plaintiffs' attorneys prior to the filing of the bankruptcy petition. The court also entered judgment against Aussenberg in the amount of $27,662.42, against Craig in the amount of $14,550.30, and against Beck in the amount of $1,000. These amounts represent the portion of corporate funds received by Wyssbrod's attorneys for their services. The court held Wyssbrod and his attorneys jointly and severally liable to Wittjen for the corporate funds that each attorney received.
¶ 53. Aussenberg and Craig argue that the circuit court erred in ordering them to repay corporate funds received by them for their services. They do not dispute that they were paid by QPI with corporate funds, nor do they dispute the amounts received for their services in this case.
¶ 54. Aussenberg first asserts that Wyssbrod's expenditure of corporate funds on behalf of the corporation was a lawful action within Wyssbrod's powers as an officer and director of QPI. This argument is specious. Aussenberg cites the general rule that directors, as the governing body of the corporation, in the absence of some express restriction in the corporate bylaws, have the power to hire and employ legal counsel on behalf of the corporation. Aussenberg correctly states that the corporate by-laws of QPI provide no express restriction on the employment of legal counsel. However, Miss.Code Ann. § 79-4-8.21(a)(1996) provides:
[u]nless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, an action required or permitted by § 79-4-1.01 et seq. to be taken at a board of directors' meeting may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the board. The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken, signed by each director, and including in the minutes or filed with the corporate records reflecting the action taken.
The board of directors of QPI consisted of two persons — Wyssbrod and Neal Labo-vitz. The record contains absolutely no documentation of a determination or resolution that this action be filed on behalf of QPI, be it in the form of minutes from a directors' meeting or written consents signed by Wyssbrod and Labovitz.
¶ 55. Wittjen argues that while the Mississippi Business Corporation Act provides authority for a shareholder to bring suit against other shareholders in the name of the corporation, there is no authority whereby the suit can be prosecuted at the cost of the corporation unless the action is successful. Miss.Code Ann. § 79-4-7.46 (1996) provides:
On termination of the derivative proceeding the court may:
(1) Order the corporation to pay the plaintiffs reasonable expenses (including attorney fees) incurred in the proceeding if it finds that the proceeding has resulted in a substantial benefit to the corporation; or
(2) Order the plaintiff to pay any defendant's reasonable expenses (including attorney fees) incurred in defending the proceeding if it finds that the proceeding was commenced or maintained without reasonable cause or for an improper purpose.
The action brought on behalf of QPI was far from successful — as discussed above, the circuit court found it to be frivolous. Furthermore, Wyssbrod certainly had no authority to expend corporate funds to prosecute claims filed in his individual capacity.
¶ 56. Aussenberg's second argument is the same as that asserted by Craig. Craig and Aussenberg argue that because there is no statutory basis for the circuit court's judgment against them for the corporate funds received as attorney's fees, the circuit court lacked the jurisdiction necessary to enter judgments against them as they were not made parties to the action. We agree. The circuit court exceeded its authority in ordering Aussenberg and Craig to disgorge the funds received by them as attorney's fees.
¶ 57. Our rules of procedure and statutory code contain specific provisions which allow courts to require attorneys appearing before them to pay money either to the court or to another party. These provisions contemplate courts requiring attorneys to pay the fees and expenses of another party to the action or sanctions for improper conduct in an action. See M.R.C.P. 11 (sanctions and award of expenses for pleadings or motions which are frivolous, false, etc.); M.R.C.P. 37 (sanctions and award of expenses for discovery violations); M.R.A.P. 2 (sanctions for noncompliance with rules); Miss.Code Ann. § 11-55-1 et seq. (Supp.2000)(fees and costs for filing meritless action); Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-17 (Supp.2000) (sanctions for contempt). Clearly, as discussed above regarding the fees and expenses awarded to Wittjen and First State Bank, the circuit court has jurisdiction over attorneys appearing before it to impose such sanctions. However, the circuit court's judgment of disgorgement against Aussenberg and Craig fits into none of these special provisions.
¶ 58. This Court has stated that where there is no specific authority for imposing sanctions, courts have an inherent power to protect the integrity of their processes, and may impose sanctions in order to do so. Ladner v. Ladner, 436 So.2d 1366, 1370 (Miss.1983). In this case, however, the circuit court did not impose the judgment of disgorgement against Aussenberg and Craig as a sanction. The court merely found that Aussenberg and Craig were obligated to repay the funds to Wittjen. There was not a finding that Aussenberg and Craig knew or should have known the funds were those of the corporation. The order of disgorgement in this case was in the nature of a judgment against persons not party to the action. Undeniably, Wittjen (as assignee of the corporation's claims) may have a cause of action against Aussenberg and Craig for corporate funds which may have been misapplied. This Court concludes that Wittjen must bring an action against Aussenberg and Craig or that Wittjen should have sought to include Aussenberg and Craig as parties to the instant action. Rather, he has attempted to "back door" the judgment under the guise of our rules regarding attorney sanctions. It bears repeating that the circuit court did not order disgorgement of the fees as a sanction. Our rules simply do not allow such a judgment.
¶ 59. Wittjen argues that the judgment of the circuit court against Aussenberg and Craig is supported by the single statutory provision dealing with attorney's fees in derivative proceedings quoted above, Miss. Code Ann. § 79-4-7.46 (1996). Wittjen argues that if Aussenberg and Craig are allowed to keep the funds received as attorney's fees and Wyssbrod is required to repay the funds, Wittjen is denied the benefit of the above statute. There is no merit in this argument. The circuit court held Wyssbrod jointly and severally liable for the corporate funds unlawfully expended. Wyssbrod has not challenged this finding, and regardless of this Court's disposition of this issue regarding Aussen-berg and Craig, Wyssbrod remains liable to Wittjen for the funds. Attorneys are not guarantors of the solvency of their clients for judgments entered against their clients. This statute does not in any way support the circuit court's judgment against Aussenberg and Craig. We conclude that the trial judge was without authority to enter a judgment against Craig and Aussenberg for the funds received by them as attorney's fees.
CONCLUSION
¶ 60. This Court affirms the circuit court's imposition of sanctions against Aus-senberg for his failure to appear at the status conference. However, the amount of sanctions is reduced from $1,000 to $100 pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 9-1-17 (Supp.2000). The circuit court's award of attorney's fees and expenses pursuant to the Litigation Accountability Act is affirmed. The judgment against Aussen-berg and Craig for the disgorgement of corporate funds received by them as attorney's fees is reversed and rendered.
¶ 61. AS TO NO. 1999-CA-00549-SCT: AFFIRMED.
AS TO NO. 1999-CA-00777-SCT: AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.
AS TO NO. 1999-CA-01461 SCT: REVERSED AND RENDERED.
BANKS, P.J., WALLER and DIAZ, JJ., concur.
McRAE, P.J., concurs in part and dissents in part with separate written opinion joined by PITTMAN, C.J.
MILLS, COBB and EASLEY, JJ., not participating.
. Technically, the claim for corporate funds unlawfully expended would belong to QPI. However, all remaining claims of QPI were assigned to Wittjen by the bankruptcy court. Thus, the circuit court ordered that the corporate funds be repaid to Wittjen.