Opinion ID: 534282
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of Motion for Reconsideration and Award of Attorneys' Fees

Text: 18 The Yusovs appeal the district court's denial of their motion for reconsideration and the court's award of attorneys' fees as a sanction against them. Their attorney was ill and could not attend the hearing, yet the district court ruled in his absence. The Yusovs contend that this was an abuse of discretion constituting reversible error. This contention is without merit. When informed that counsel for the Yusovs could not appear at the hearing, the court decided to dispense with oral argument and decide the case on the basis of the papers submitted by each side. This action was perfectly consistent with Fed.R.Civ.P. 78 and Local Rule 7.11 (the court may dispense with oral argument on any motion except where an oral hearing is required by statute, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or these Local Rules). In light of this fact and of our previous ruling that the magistrate acted properly in granting the motion to compel, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying the motion for reconsideration. 19 The award of attorneys' fees to Yusuf as a sanction against the Yusovs for failing to comply with Local Rules 7.15.1 and 7.15.2 was well within the discretion of the district court. Local Rule 7.15.4 (The failure of any counsel to [comply with Rules 7.15.1 and 7.15.2] ... shall result in the imposition of sanctions.). 20 AFFIRMED.