Opinion ID: 427080
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Lack of Finality.

Text: 14 Heritage argues first that the May order is not a final decision of the district court as required by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291 (1976), because it did not quantify the contempt sanction and left open the manner by which the order was to be enforced. Heritage points to the subsequent order of the district court quantifying the duration of contempt at 74 days and issuing a writ of execution against Shufflers in the amount of $37,000 as proof of the lack of finality of the May order. We cannot agree. 15 Where the contempt proceeding is the sole proceeding before the district court, an order of civil contempt finding a party in contempt of a prior final judgment and imposing sanctions is a final decision under section 1291. See Alexander v. United States, 201 U.S. 117, 121-22, 26 S.Ct. 356, 357-58, 50 L.Ed. 686 (1906); Cabrera v. Municipality of Bayamon, 622 F.2d 4, 7 (1st Cir.1980); Vincent v. Local 294, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 424 F.2d 124, 128 (2d Cir.1970); 9 J. Moore, B. Ward & J. Lucas, Moore's Federal Practice p 110.13, at 168 (2d ed. 1982). Even though the size of the sanction imposed by the order depends upon the duration of contumacious behavior occurring after entry of the contempt order, the order is nonetheless final for purposes of section 1291. See Cabrera, 622 F.2d at 7 ($1,000 per day fine); Vincent, 424 F.2d at 127 ($200 per day fine). Once the finding of contempt has been made and a sanction imposed, the order has acquired all the elements of operativeness and consequence necessary to be possessed by any judicial order to enable it to have the status of a final decision under Sec. 1291. See SEC v. Naftalin, 460 F.2d 471, 475 (8th Cir.1972). Thus, we have jurisdiction over this appeal under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1291. 1 16