Opinion ID: 39693
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Attorneys' Fees as Sanctions

Text: 26 It appears from the briefs and the district court's orders that Baker abused the discovery process by either attempting to evade or ignoring the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Baker's main claim is that, before the district court imposes costs, it is obligated to consider a lesser form of sanction. However, as American points out, the Court must consider a lesser form of sanction only when dismissal, as opposed to costs, is the sanction. Compare Bann v. Ingram Micro, Inc., 108 F.3d 625, 627 (5th Cir.1997) (imposing the requirement for dismissal with prejudice) with O'Neill, 74 F.3d at 96 (imposing no requirements for costs). As before, given the discretion afforded the trial court and Baker's repeated discovery violations, the district court's sanctions orders need not be reversed.