Opinion ID: 1892316
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sanctions Under SDCL 15-6-11

Text: The Crowleys' last argument is that the trial court improperly awarded $2,724.27 in sanctions to the school district as sanctions under SDCL 15-6-11(a) and (b). The trial court determined that such an amount comprised reasonable and necessary defense costs in this action, and found [t]hat the institution of this action was not well grounded in fact, was not warranted by existing law and was interposed causing unnecessary costs of litigation. Having reviewed the trial court's award of sanctions without any presumption of correctness of the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law, under SDCL 15-6-11(d), we affirm the trial court on this issue. SDCL 15-6-11(a) requires that every pleading, motion and other paper be signed by at least one attorney of record, in his individual name, or, if a party is not represented by an attorney, requires signature of that party. The purpose of such signatures is set out within the statute, which provides, in pertinent part: The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certificate by him that he has read the pleading, motion or other paper; that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief formed after reasonable inquiry it is well grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law, and that it is not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation. Violation of SDCL 15-6-11(a) triggers sanctions under SDCL 15-6-11(b): If a pleading, motion or other paper is signed in violation of this rule, the court, upon motion or upon its own initiative, shall impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or both, an appropriate sanction, which shall include an order to pay to the other party or parties the amount of the reasonable expenses incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion or other paper, including a reasonable attorney's fee. In affirming the trial court's award under SDCL 15-6-11(a), and (b), we note that this dispute has continued since 1973. Yet, Crowleys have waited until 1987 to apply for a writ of mandamus, which is extremely untimely. Here, the trial court has been involved in a series of cases reflecting a fixation on the part of Crowleys that they are going to get that one acre of land. The facts of this case are not as egregious as those of Tri-State Refining and Investment Company v. Apaloosa Company, 431 N.W.2d 311 (S.D.1988) but Tri-State did not establish a floor or minimum level that has to be attained before sanctions can be imposed. Crowleys continue to use the courts to decide matters which have already been decided or which they failed to urge in previous proceedings. Trezona obtained a judgment quieting title unto himself; title to the land was settled; the issue was settled, with even greater affirmation, when this Court held that Crowleys had no standing. Surely, this litigation should have been buried with a peaceful repose. Rather, however, harassment was undertaken in the form of an application for mandamus to end-run all previous decisions. We believe that the Court system was seriously abused, and thus affirm on the sanctions issue. Thus, we affirm the trial court on an award of sanctions. Appellees also request appellate attorney's fees and costs under SDCL 15-6-11(d), which provides, inter alia: Reasonable attorney fees and costs shall be awarded to the successful party on appeal. Their request is supported by two listings of attorney's fees, costs, and expenses incurred between April 12, 1988 and April 24, 1989, totalling $4,167.10. We grant appellees reasonable attorney's fees in the amount of $1,500, plus costs. Affirmed. WUEST, C.J., and MORGAN and MILLER, JJ., concur. SABERS, J., dissents.