Case Name: NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. WBI HOLDINGS, Defendant, and Fidelity Exploration and Production Company, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2006-06-19
Citations: 185 F. App'x 679
Docket Number: No. 05-36149
Parties: NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. WBI HOLDINGS, Defendant, and Fidelity Exploration and Production Company, Defendant—Appellee.
Judges: Before: REINHARDT, W. FLETCHER, and GOULD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 185
Pages: 679–679

Head Matter:
NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. WBI HOLDINGS, Defendant, and Fidelity Exploration and Production Company, Defendant—Appellee.
No. 05-36149.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted June 15, 2006.
Decided June 19, 2006.
Jack R. Tuholske, Esq., Sarah K. McMillan, Esq., Tuholske Law Office, P.C., Missoula, MT, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Ronald F. Waterman, Esq., Jon Metropoulos, Esq., Dana L. Hupp, Esq., Laura D. Vachowski, Esq., Gough Shanahan Johnson & Waterman, Helena, MT, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before: REINHARDT, W. FLETCHER, and GOULD, Circuit Judges.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Northern Plains Resource Council appeals the district court's imposition, under its inherent powers, of sanctions in the amount of $2,209.50. We vacate the order imposing sanctions.
The district court failed to make a specific finding that Northern Plains acted in bad faith in failing to comply completely with the terms of two protective orders. A specific finding of bad faith is required to support a court's imposition of sanctions pursuant to its inherent powers. See Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper, 447 U.S. 752, 767, 100 S.Ct. 2455, 65 L.Ed.2d 488 (1980); United States v. Stoneberger, 805 F.2d 1391, 1393 (9th Cir.1986). Further, there is no evidence in the record that Northern Plains acted in bad faith; "bad faith" requires that the conduct be willful or reckless with an improper motive. See Fink v. Gomez, 239 F.3d 989, 993-94 (9th Cir .2001).
Accordingly, the order imposing sanctions is VACATED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.