Opinion ID: 1934684
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Constitutes Final Judgment

Text: The original action in the Justice of the Peace Court was a collection proceeding between Evans' client, Security Pacific, and Price. As a result of Evans' apparent violation of Rule 5, the Justice of the Peace sua sponte initiated a collateral proceeding by directing Evans to appear and show cause why he should not be disciplined. After a hearing, the Justice of the Peace found Evans had violated Rule 5 in the original underlying proceeding, as well as on prior occasions. In an effort to preserve the integrity of its judicial process, the Justice of the Peace sanctioned Evans. In Gannett, this Court described the attributes of a collateral order comprising a final judgment: first, it determines a matter independent of the issues to be resolved in the original underlying proceeding; second, it binds a person who was not a party in the original underlying proceeding; and, third, it has a substantial effect on important rights. Gannett Co., Inc. v. State, 565 A.2d at 900. The purpose of a Rule 5 sanction is to punish the transgressor and to deter others. See Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 390, 110 S.Ct. 2447, 2453, 110 L.Ed.2d 359 (1990). It is intended to secure the proper functioning of the legal system, independent of the underlying cause of action. Id. The ratio decidendi of the United States Supreme Court's holding in Cooter & Gell regarding Federal Rule 11 is equally appropriate to the facts of this case. [T]he imposition of a Rule 11 sanction is not a judgment on the merits of an action. Rather, it requires the determination of a collateral issue: whether the attorney has abused the judicial process, and, if so, what sanction would be appropriate. Such a determination may be made after the principal suit has been terminated. Id. at 396, 110 S.Ct. at 2456. We have applied the holdings in Gannett, Cohen, and Cooter & Gell to the facts of this case. The record reflects that the collateral order for Evans to pay $1000.00 as a sanction for violating Rule 5 constituted a final judgment. Therefore, it was appealable to the Superior Court. 10 Del.C. § 9571. [3] Gannett Co., Inc. v. State, 565 A.2d 895. See United States Catholic Conference v. Abortion Rights Mobilization, Inc., 487 U.S. 72, 108 S.Ct. 2268, 101 L.Ed.2d 69 (1988).