Court Opinion

ID: 589231
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-08-23 10:19:23+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:16.100639
License: Public Domain

972 F.2d 1340
NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.In re Kenneth JONES, Debtor,Kenneth JONES, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.Rita Ann "Gobert" JONES, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 91-36168.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted July 27, 1992.*Decided Aug. 4, 1992.

Before WRIGHT, FARRIS and BEEZER, Circuit Judges.

1
MEMORANDUM*

2
Kenneth Jones appeals the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel's (BAP) opinion dismissing his complaint for failure to attend a properly noticed deposition.   We review the imposition of sanctions ordered under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 for an abuse of discretion and will not reverse absent a definite and firm conviction that the lower court made a clear error of judgment.   Halaco Engineering Co. v. Costle, 843 F.2d 376, 379 (9th Cir.1988).

3
A court must weigh five factors in determining whether to dismiss for failure to comply with a court order:  "(1) the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation;  (2) the court's need to manage its docket;  (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants;  (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits;  and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions."   Thompson v. Housing Authority of City of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 829 (1986).

4
Here the BAP explicitly considered all five dismissal factors.   After carefully reviewing that decision and independently reviewing the record, we find that the decision to award sanctions was not an abuse of discretion.

5
The decision to award attorney's fees and costs against Jones for failure to attend the deposition was proper under Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(b) as was the decision to deny his motion to amend the findings and judgment of the order for sanctions under Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(b).

6
AFFIRMED.

*
 The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument.   Fed.R.App.P. 34(a);  Ninth Circuit Rule 34-4

**
 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3