Court Opinion

ID: 26237
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:50:12+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:32.675655
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                          FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                       No. 01-20322
                                     Summary Calendar

BILLY CLAUDE PHILLIPS,

                                                                                  Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                             versus

BEVERLY CROWE PHILLIPS PARRISH; MARITIME ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMAN ASSOCIATION PENSION RETIREMENT
WELFARE AND VACATION FUNDS,

                                                            Defendants-Appellees.
*****************************************************************
                               ________________

                                       No. 01-20446
                                     Summary Calendar
                                     ________________

BILLY CLAUDE PHILLIPS,

                                                              Plaintiff,

                                             versus

BEVERLY CROWE PHILLIPS PARRISH; ET AL.,

                                                              Defendants,

BEVERLY CROWE PHILLIPS PARRISH,

                                                                                 Defendant-Appellee,
                                             versus

EDWARD TRUNCELITTO,

                                                              Appellant,

                    ----------------------------------------------------------
                       Appeal from the United States District Court
                             for the Southern District of Texas
                                 USDC No. H-00-CV-3798
----------------------------------------------------------
                 December 27, 2001
Before DAVIS, BENAVIDES and STEWART, Circuit Judges:

PER CURIAM:*

        Billy Claude Phillips appeals the district court’s dismissal of his action for lack of subject-

matter jurisdiction. Phillips is essentially challenging a state court’s domestic relations order which

awarded a portion of Phillips’ pension benefits to his former wife, Beverly Parrish. The district court

did not err in holding that it was without subject-matter jurisdiction to entertain a collateral challenge

to a state court order. See Liedtke v. State Bar of Texas, 18 F.3d 315, 317 (5th Cir. 1994).

        Phillips’ attorney, Edward Truncelitto, appeals the district court’s order imposing Fed. R. Civ.

P. 11 sanctions against him for filing a frivolous complaint pursuant to Parrish’s motion, arguing that

the motion was not properly filed in accordance with the procedural requirements of Rule

11(c)(1)(A). Because Parrish’s motion was not served 21 days prior to filing in the district court as

required by Rule 11(c)(1)(A) and was filed after the district court rendered its judgment, the district

court abused its discretion in imposing Rule 11 sanctions against Truncelitto. See Tompkins v. Cyr,

202 F.3d 770, 788 (5th Cir. 2000); Elliot v. Tilton, 64 F.3d 213, 215 (5th Cir. 1995). Therefore, the

district court’s order imposing Rule 11 sanctions against Truncelitto is VACATED.

        The district court could have imposed sanct ions against Truncelitto under its inherent

authority. “In order to impose sanctions against an attorney under its inherent power, a court must

make a specific finding that the attorney acted in `bad faith.’” Elliot, 64 F.3d at 217 (citations

omitted). Although the district court held that Phillips’ complaint had no basis in law and did not

present a good faith argument for extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, the district

court did not make a specific finding that Truncelitto acted in bad faith. Because such a finding is

required, the case is REMANDED for a determination of whether such a finding is appropriate. See

id. at 217.

        *
           Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
       Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 38, Parrish has filed motions for damages and costs incurred

because of the allegedly frivolous appeals filed by Phillips and Truncelitto. Parrish’s motion for

damages and costs against Phillips is GRANTED, and Phillips is ordered to pay attorneys’ fees in the

amount of $2437.50 to Parrish within 30 days of the date of this court’s order. Parrish’s motion for

damages and costs against Truncelitto is DENIED.

       AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED AND REMANDED IN PART; MOTION FOR

DAMAGES AND COSTS AGAINST PHILLIPS GRANTED; MOTION FOR DAMAGES AND

COSTS AGAINST TRUNCELITTO DENIED.