Opinion ID: 1355709
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: LYLE v. KOUBOURLIS

Text: Lyle was the manager of Akers Department Store, Inc., when the sale negotiations between Akers and Koubourlis commenced. The parties provided that Koubourlis would pay Lyle $19,000 for his shares of stock and Lyle would remain as store manager. Shortly after the sale, Lyle was let go by Koubourlis to reduce operating costs. For compensation, Koubourlis executed a $10,000 employment contract buy-out note over to Lyle. In the ensuing action involving Akers, Lyle, and Koubourlis a motion in limine was granted which prevented the past criminal record of Akers from being put in evidence. In response to what Koubourlis believed to be derogatory comments directed at the tenants of Moscow Mall about him, Koubourlis provided Akers' criminal record to a local reporter. A Moscow newspaper published the record. As a sanction for his actions, the trial court struck Koubourlis' right to a jury trial. The trial was held without a jury, and the court rejected Koubourlis' claim for fraud and misrepresentation. On appeal, Koubourlis argues the trial judge abused his discretion in imposing a sanction denying Koubourlis a jury trial. The court found that Koubourlis' actions have materially interfered with the lawful administration of the judicial process in this case and that such action has materially prejudiced plaintiffs' right to a fair and speedy trial if a jury trial were to be held. R., Vol. 8, p. 109. As with any discretionary ruling of a trial judge, the decision to impose a sanction will not be overturned absent a clear showing of abuse of that discretion. Devault v. Herndon, 107 Idaho 1, 684 P.2d 978 (1984). The right to a trial by jury is an extremely valuable one guarded jealously by this Court. See State v. Bennion, 112 Idaho 32, 730 P.2d 952 (1986) (Carving out a narrow exception to the right to a jury trial in the criminal context as to petty traffic infractions not punishable by imprisonment or other criminal sanction.). However, the right is not absolute. For example, like other constitutional protections, the right to a jury trial may be waived. I.R.C.P. 38(d); Meyer v. Whipple, 94 Idaho 260, 486 P.2d 271 (1971). But where, as here, a judge strikes a party's demand for a jury as a sanction for violation of a court order, we will review the trial court's discretionary act very closely. We are mindful of the fact that recent opinions of this court have required trial courts to justify drastic sanctions by creating a record showing that the trial judge considered lesser sanctions and entered findings as to why the lesser sanctions would not be appropriate. Southern Idaho Production Credit Association v. Astorquia, 113 Idaho 526, 746 P.2d 985 (1987) (attorney violated a discovery order); see also, Fitzgerald v. Walker, 113 Idaho 730, 747 P.2d 752 (1987) (attorney did not diligently seek out and prepare an expert witness). However, in those cases, the trial court ordered sanctions because of the failures of a party's attorney, not the party himself. Here Koubourlis himself directly violated the judge's order in limine by intentionally releasing Akers' criminal record to the press. This act could only be calculated to influence potential jurors, thus prejudicing Lyle's position before a jury. Akers would no doubt have been an important witness in Lyle's defense against Koubourlis' counterclaim for fraud in the sale of the store's stock. The information released by Koubourlis raised the inference that Akers may have committed fraud in the past. Lyle, as his fellow business associate and stockholder, could have been tarnished in the jury's mind by association with Akers. Thus, although the trial judge did not create a record reviewing lesser sanctions, we do not remand for further findings. Unlike Astorquia and Fitzgerald, supra, here the defendant personally and intentionally violated the court's order in limine causing prejudice to Lyle. Here lesser sanctions could not unring the bell sounded throughout the community of Moscow that carried the message of Akers' past. The prejudice to Lyle could not be remedied other than by striking Koubourlis' demand for a jury. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's imposition of the sanction but confine our holding narrowly to the facts before us today. Ordinarily, striking a party's demand for a jury would be an inappropriate sanction; and ordinarily, a trial court must consider lesser sanctions and create a record of findings that demonstrate why lesser sanctions would not be effective before imposing a drastic sanction. Costs, excluding attorney fees, to respondents. SHEPARD, C.J., and BAKES and HUNTLEY, JJ., concur. DONALDSON, J., sat, but did not participate due to his untimely death.