Opinion ID: 427301
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Court's Order Holding McAnlis in Civil Contempt

Text: 11 McAnlis contends the trial court erred in holding him in contempt. (1) McAnlis argues the court erred in initiating contempt proceedings on its own motion. (2) McAnlis contends his affidavit was sufficient to purge himself of contempt. (3) McAnlis claims the trial court denied him his right to counsel by rejecting his request for a continuance so he could obtain counsel for the contempt proceeding. (4) McAnlis argues that he did not have a fair opportunity to produce a defense; and (5) McAnlis claims the contempt charge was based on insufficient evidence. After a review of the record, we find McAnlis's arguments meritless. 12 McAnlis suffered no prejudice as a result of the trial court's initiation of contempt proceedings on its own motion. The trial court's action constituted harmless error. McAnlis's affidavit was insufficient to purge him of the contempt charge. In a contempt hearing, the alleged contemnor has the burden of proving inability to produce the requested information. McPhaul v. United States, 364 U.S. 372, 379, 81 S.Ct. 138, 142, 5 L.Ed.2d 136 (1960); United States v. Hankins, 565 F.2d 1344, 1351-52 (5th Cir.), opinion clarified and reh'g denied, 581 F.2d 431 (5th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 909, 99 S.Ct. 1218, 59 L.Ed.2d 457 (1979). McAnlis's affidavit states that he has difficulty comprehending the difference between matters of fact and conclusions of law; but contains no evidence of his inability to produce the information. This affidavit fails to fulfill his burden of proving inability to produce the requested information. 13 The right to counsel exists if the litigant may lose his physical liberty if he loses the litigation. Lassiter v. Department of Social Services of Durham County, North Carolina, 452 U.S. 18, 25, 101 S.Ct. 2153, 2158, 68 L.Ed.2d 640 (1981). We do not dispute McAnlis's right to counsel at the contempt proceeding because imprisonment is a possibility. A review of the facts, however, compels this court to hold McAnlis waived his right to counsel. On February 17, 1982, McAnlis explained to the trial court that he did not want to pay for an attorney. Subsequently, at the contempt hearing on April 22, McAnlis requested that the trial court grant a continuance so he could obtain counsel. The facts suggest that McAnlis requested the continuance to delay the proceedings. 14 The notice requirements of criminal contempt proceedings also apply to civil contempt proceedings. Brown v. Braddick, 595 F.2d 961, 966, n. 7 (5th Cir.1979). To have sufficient notice of a contempt hearing, an individual needs adequate notice and time for preparation. In Re Brummit, 608 F.2d 640, 642-43 (5th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 447 U.S. 907, 100 S.Ct. 2990, 64 L.Ed.2d 856 (1980); In Re Grand Jury Proceedings, 559 F.2d 234 (5th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1062, 98 S.Ct. 1234, 55 L.Ed.2d 762 (1978). After reviewing the facts, we find that McAnlis had adequate notice and time for preparation of his defense. The trial court, therefore, gave him sufficient notice of the contempt proceedings. 15 The contempt charge was based on sufficient evidence. Once a trial court enforces an IRS summons, an individual who does not comply with the summons is properly held in contempt unless he produces evidence showing his lack of possession or control of the information sought by the summons. See United States v. Hankins at 1351-52. Since McAnlis did not comply with the summons enforced by the district court, he was properly held in contempt because he had not produced any evidence concerning his lack of possession or control of the information sought by the Internal Revenue Service.