Opinion ID: 2978321
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The law on sanctions

Text: “By presenting to the court a pleading . . . an attorney . . . certifies that to the best of the person’s knowledge . . . formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances . . . . the claims . . . are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b). If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the district court finds a violation of the rule, it may impose an appropriate sanction on the attorney responsible. Id. 11(c)(1). The sanction, if imposed on motion and warranted for effective deterrence, may be for reasonable attorney fees and expenses resulting directly from the violation. Id. The order for sanctions “must describe the sanctioned conduct and explain the basis for the sanction.” Id. 11(c)(6). Rule 11 sanctions may not be imposed for conduct related to discovery that is subject to the provisions of, among others, Rule 37. Id. 11(d).
If a motion to compel discovery is granted, the court must, after affording an opportunity to be heard, require the party whose conduct necessitated the motion or the attorney advising such conduct to pay the movant reasonable expenses incurred in the motion, including attorney fees, unless the court finds that the motion was filed without the movant’s first making a good faith effort to obtain the discovery, the opposing party’s objection was justified, or other circumstances would make the award unjust. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5)(A).