Opinion ID: 524689
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mosher Litigation

Text: 4 The district court for the Northern District of Alabama decided in Mosher's favor, ordering discovery and thereafter denying the Secretary's motions to stay discovery and dismiss Mosher's counterclaim. The Secretary refused to comply with the discovery order and asked the district court to certify the discovery and warrant issues for interlocutory appeal. The district court granted the request, but this Court denied the Secretary's petition. Thereafter, the district court again ordered the Secretary to comply with its discovery order and, once again, the Secretary refused to do so. Subsequently, the court imposed discovery sanctions against the Secretary, dismissing the contempt action with prejudice, entering judgment by default on Mosher's counterclaim, quashing the inspection warrant, enjoining further inspection of Mosher pursuant to OSHA's administrative plan, and awarding attorneys' fees to Mosher. The Secretary appealed. 5 On appeal, this Court held that the district court abused its discretion in ordering discovery and, therefore, vacated the court's order imposing sanctions and remanded the case for a decision on the merits of the Secretary's contempt complaint and Mosher's motion to quash the inspection warrant. Donovan v. Mosher Steel Co., 791 F.2d 1535, 1536 (11th Cir.1986). Additionally, this Court instructed the district court to dismiss Mosher's counterclaim, rejecting the argument that OSHA's inspection plan underlying the warrant is somehow separable from the warrant application and may be independently attacked in a proceeding to enforce the warrant. Id. at 1537. 6 On remand, cross-motions for summary judgment were filed by the parties. The district court determined, based on the information contained in the warrant application, that there was probable cause for the issuance of the warrant and, accordingly, held Mosher in civil contempt for failure to honor the warrant. The court ordered Mosher to comply with the warrant and imposed a $1,000 per day fine--to commence ten days thence--for each day Mosher refused to permit the inspection. On the ninth day following the date of the court's order, Mosher filed a motion for stay of judgment pending appeal. On the tenth day following the order--the day on which Mosher became obligated to pay the $1,000 per day fine--the motion for stay was denied. Thereafter, Mosher permitted the inspection and appealed (No. 88-7152). 7 Subsequent to Mosher's appeal, the Secretary filed a motion to amend the district court's judgment to include an award of costs and attorneys' fees. The court summarily denied that motion, and the Secretary appealed (No. 88-7502).