Chambers v. Nasco, Inc.
501 U.S. 32 (1991) Cited 9,258 times 14 Legal AnalysesHolding that courts "may bar from the courtroom a criminal defendant who disrupts a trial" may "assess attorney fees when a party has acted in bad faith, vexatiously, wantonly, or for oppressive reasons," and "may act sua sponte to dismiss a suit for failure to prosecute"
Cooter Gell v. Hartmarx Corp.
496 U.S. 384 (1990) Cited 4,145 times 6 Legal AnalysesHolding that it is necessarily an abuse of discretion to apply the wrong legal standard
Fink v. Gomez
239 F.3d 989 (9th Cir. 2001) Cited 904 timesHolding sanctions can be imposed for recklessness "coupled with an improper purpose"
Holgate v. Baldwin
425 F.3d 671 (9th Cir. 2005) Cited 411 timesHolding that we “enforce [Rule 11's] safe harbor provision strictly”
In re Keegan Management, Securities Litigation
78 F.3d 431 (9th Cir. 1996) Cited 522 timesHolding § 1927 sanctions "must be supported by a finding of subjective bad faith"
Primus Automotive Financial Serv. v. Batarse
115 F.3d 644 (9th Cir. 1997) Cited 461 timesHolding that a sanction could be upheld under a district court's inherent powers despite the court's failure to specify the source of its authority
Yagman v. Republic Ins
987 F.2d 622 (9th Cir. 1993) Cited 502 timesHolding that a "sanction based upon the court's inherent power [was] not sustainable" where there was "no indication in the record before us that [plaintiff acting as his own counsel] acted in bad faith or intended to mislead the court"
Cunningham v. County of Los Angeles
879 F.2d 481 (9th Cir. 1988) Cited 519 timesHolding four justifications for adjusting the lodestar improper because they are subsumed in the lodestar determination itself
Townsend v. Holman Consulting Corp.
914 F.2d 1136 (9th Cir. 1990) Cited 481 times 1 Legal AnalysesHolding that "requesting a stay without bond . . . was warranted by existing law."
Barber v. Miller
146 F.3d 707 (9th Cir. 1998) Cited 338 timesHolding that "[a]n award of [Rule 11] sanctions cannot be upheld" where party seeking sanctions did not provide twenty-one day notice period
Rule 11 - Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to the Court; Sanctions
Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 Cited 36,015 times 145 Legal AnalysesHolding an "unrepresented party" to the same standard as an attorney
Rule 19 - Required Joinder of Parties
Fed. R. Civ. P. 19 Cited 9,582 times 55 Legal AnalysesHolding a person must be joined if disposing the action in the person's absence may leave an existing party subject to a "substantial" risk of incurring inconsistent obligations
Section 1927 - Counsel's liability for excessive costs
28 U.S.C. § 1927 Cited 8,863 times 81 Legal AnalysesGranting courts the power to charge "excess costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees reasonably incurred" due to "unreasonabl[e] and vexatious" conduct
Section 547 - Preferences
11 U.S.C. § 547 Cited 8,139 times 85 Legal AnalysesSeeking to avoid preferential transfers