Court Opinion

ID: 9914352
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-30 03:10:48.634026+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:11:26.605623
License: Public Domain

Iss need San | &
2009

STATE OF VERMONT
RUTLAND COUNTY

ROBERT ZORN
Rutland Superior Court
v. Docket No. 571-9-00 Rdcv

S. SCOTT SMITH

NOTICE OF CONDUCT
and
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

Final judgment was entered in favor of plaintiff Robert Zorn on August 17, 2001.
Since then, Mr. Zorn has attempted to enforce the judgment by various means, including
motions filed with this court. Several of the motions appear to violate Vermont Rule of
Civil Procedure 11(b). This notice describes the specific conduct that appears to be in
violation of the Rule, and provides for Mr. Zorn to respond in accordance with the
procedure set forth in Rule 11.

The specific conduct is as follows. On March 31, 2008, more than 6% years after
the entry of final judgment, Mr. Zorn filed a post-judgment document styled as an
“ancillary, amended complaint.” The document appears to accuse Mr. Smith, the State of
Vermont, and the undersigned of engaging in extortion, racketeering, conspiracy, and
other organized crimes in connection with Mr. Zom’s unsuccessful attempts to enforce
his money judgment.’ The filing of an amended complaint more than 6% years after the
entry of final judgment is not warranted by any Rule of Civil Procedure, and the
document contains factual allegations that do not appear to have evidentiary support.

On May 23, 2008, Mr. Zorn filed a post-judgment document styled as a “Motion
for Summary Judgment Against S. Scott Smith Pursuant of V.R.C.P. 56 12 Uncontested
Facts.” The document appears to seek summary judgment against Mr. Smith under Rule
56 because he failed to file a response to a post-judgment motion for contempt filed by
Mr. Zorn. The filing of a motion for summary judgment nearly 7 years after the entry of
final judgment is not warranted by any Rule of Civil Procedure.

On June 30, 2008, Mr. Zorn filed a post-judgment document advising the Federal
Bureau of Investigation of organized crime activity involving Mr. Smith, the State of
Vermont Judiciary, and the undersigned in relation to his difficulties in enforcing the
money judgment. The allegations are difficult to understand, but appear to involve
accusations of unconstitutional (and treasonous) conduct in relation to motions filed by
Mr. Zorn and denied by the court. To the extent that a request for relief from Rutland
Superior Court can be discerned, the motion appears to seek “revestment” of the
judgment order. It is unclear to the court what this means. The motion does not appear
to be warranted by any Rule of Civil Procedure.

‘ The undersigned interpreted the complaint as an implied request for disqualification under Rule 40, and
referred the request to the Administrative Judge. The request was denied on September 15, 2008.
On September 11, 2008, Mr. Zorn filed a post-judgment document seeking to
advise the Internal Revenue Service of a conspiracy between Mr. Smith, the State of
Vermont, the undersigned, and Mr. Zorn’s former attorney in relation to the unsuccessful
attempts to enforce the money judgment. The letter was accompanied by an IRS form,
completed by Mr. Zorn, accusing Mr. Smith of engaging in organized crime, kickbacks,
failure to pay taxes, unreported income, and corruption; it also states that Mr. Zorn
considers Mr. Smith to be dangerous. It is not clear what Mr. Zorn hoped to accomplish
by filing the letter with the Rutland Superior Court. The letter is not warranted by any
Rule of Civil Procedure, and the factual allegations contained in the letter do not appear
to have evidentiary support.

On the same day, Mr. Zorn filed a post-judgment document purporting to be a
“Motion for Summary Judgment Pursuant of New Facts.” This document restates some
history involving Mr. Zorn’s attempts to enforce his money judgment, and alleges
improprieties involving the arrest warrant that was issued against Mr. Smith in April
2002, and shortly thereafter vacated for lack of notice. It is clear from the motion that
Mr. Zorn is frustrated by his inability to enforce the money judgment. However, the
motion does not appear to request any form of relief authorized by the Rules of Civil
Procedure, and does not appear to be warranted by any rule.

Vermont Civil Procedure Rule 11(b)(2) prohibits both attorneys and
unrepresented parties from presenting to the court any pleading, written motion, or other
paper that is not warranted by existing law. Rule 11(b)(3) prohibits such persons from
presenting to the court any pleading, written motion, or other paper that contains factual
allegations that do not have evidentiary support. The relevant text of Rule | 1(b) is as
follows:

(b) Representations to Court. By presenting to the court
(whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating)
a pleading, written motion, or other paper, an attorney or
unrepresented party is certifying that to the best of the
person’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after
an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances:

(1) it is not being presented for any improper
purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or
needless increase in the cost of litigation;

(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions
therein are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous
argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of
existing law or the establishment of new law; [and]

(3) the allegations and other factual contentions
have evidentiary support, or, if specifically so identified,
are likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable
opportunity for further investigation or discovery; ....
It appears to the court that the documents described above do not meet the
requirements of Rule 11(b). Pursuant to Rule 11(c), Mr. Zorn is entitled to an
opportunity to respond in writing stating why the conduct described above does not
violate the Rule and warrant sanctions as aresult. Mr. Zorn may respond by filing a
written statement of not more than five pages in length with the Court Clerk within 15
days. This written statement should explain why the conduct described above does not
violate Rule 11(b), and why the court should not impose sanctions to deter the
continuation of conduct in violation of the rule.

Dated at Chelsea, Vermont this 15" day of January, 2009.

Hon. Mary Miles Teachout
Superior Court Judge