AMOS L. MAZZANT, III, District Judge.
Pending before the Court is the decision to sanction Mike Jabary's attorney, Nicholas D. Mosser ("Mosser"), for making disrespectful statements to the Court without a basis in fact. Having considered the relevant pleadings, the Court finds that sanctions are appropriate and necessary.
In September 2017, Mosser filed a motion and a reply on behalf of his client, Mike Jabary ("Jabary"), in which the Court identified sanctionable statements. In order to fully understand and explain the statements in the correct context, the Court briefly summarizes the procedural history of the case. In 2009 and 2010, Jabary owned and operated a restaurant and hookah bar, called Jabary Mediterranean, for which he retained a Certificate of Occupancy (the "Certificate"). After about a year, the Certificate was revoked by a notice of violation posted on the door of Jabary Mediterranean. Jabary asserts that his Certificate was improperly revoked.
On December 28, 2010, Jabary filed a pro se complaint in the Eastern District of Texas against the City of Allen ("the City"). Jabary retained Mosser, along with Mosser's father, James C. Mosser of Mosser Law PLLC, and filed Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint on May 13, 2011, against the City and several Individual Defendants (Dkt. #9). On August 24, 2011, Jabary filed Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint and 7(a) Reply (Dkt. #37), which made clear that Jabary asserted a takings claim against the City and claims for violation of equal protection, procedural due process, substantive due process, and conspiracy against the Individual Defendants and the City. Without first seeking leave, Jabary improperly filed his Third Amended Complaint on January 19, 2012 (Dkt. #77).
The City filed an answer to Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint and 7(a) Reply (Dkt. #50). The City (Dkt. #48) and the Individual Defendants (Dkt. #49) also filed motions to dismiss the claims asserted against them in Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint and 7(a) Reply. The undersigned
Once the case resumed in the district court, Jabary filed Plaintiff's Motion to Compel Discovery and Memorandum in Support ("Jabary's Motion to Compel") (Dkt. #128), seeking discovery on all matters relevant to the remaining claims. The Court denied Jabary's Motion to Compel, reasoning that Fifth Circuit law only allowed for limited discovery on qualified immunity until the facts necessary to rule on the immunity claims were discovered (Dkt. #131). Following the denial of Jabary's Motion to Compel, McCullough and Terrell filed a motion for summary judgment asserting a qualified immunity defense (Dkt. #135). The undersigned recommended that the claims against Terrell be dismissed with prejudice and the case continue as to McCullough because there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether McCullough committed a due process violation and whether he was entitled to qualified immunity (Dkt. #151). The Honorable Ron Clark
Once the case resumed, the Court held a status conference on June 20, 2017, and issued an Amended Scheduling Order on June 30, 2017, which set the deadline for discovery as October 2, 2017, the Final Pretrial Conference for November 9, 2017, and Jury Selection and Trial for November 14, 2017 (Dkt. #231). Over two months later, on September 5, 2017, Mosser, on behalf of Jabary, filed a Motion Requesting Status Conference and Revised Orders on Discovery (Dkt. #235). The reason Jabary filed the motion was to determine what discovery Jabary was permitted to obtain, and to enable discovery on matters outside of qualified immunity (Dkt. #235). McCullough filed a response to the motion (Dkt. #236) and Mosser, on behalf of Jabary, filed a reply (Dkt. #237). In filing his motion and reply, Mosser made several statements that the Court identified as sanctionable statements (Dkt. #239). Accordingly, the Court issued its Order to Show Cause ("Show Cause Order") stating "[p]ursuant to Rule 11(c)(3) and Rule 12(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Court's inherent power to regulate a party's conduct in a case before it, [Mosser] is hereby
The statements at issue in Dkt. #235 are as follows:
The statements at issue in Dkt. #237 are as follows:
(Dkt. #239 at pp. 1-3) (emphasis in original). The Court originally set a show cause hearing for Monday, October 2, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. (Dkt. #239 at p. 3). The Court subsequently rescheduled the hearing ("Show Cause Hearing") for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 13, 2017. Mosser filed his Response to Show Cause Order on October 10, 2017 (Dkt. #250). The Court held the Show Cause Hearing on Friday, October 13, 2017.
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure outline how an attorney shall comport himself before a court. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b) provides that:
FED. R. CIV. P. 11(b)(3). "On its own, [a] court may order an attorney, law firm, or party to show cause why conduct specifically described in the order has not violated Rule 11(b)." FED. R. CIV. P. 11(c)(3). However, for Rule 11 purposes, courts must afford the sanctioned party notice and an opportunity to be heard to ensure due process. Merriman v. Sec. Ins. Co. of Hartford, 100 F.3d 1187, 1191 (5th Cir. 1996) (citing Boddie v. Connecticut, 401 U.S. 371, 401 (1971); Spiller v. Ella Smithers Geriatric Ctr., 919 F.2d 339, 346-47 (5th Cir. 1990)).
When evaluating Mosser's objectionable contentions, the Court considers the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Eastern District of Texas's Standards of Practice. Under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, "[a] lawyer shall not knowingly: (1) make a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal." TEX. DISCIPLINARY RULES PROF'L CONDUCT R. 3.03(a)(1), reprinted in TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN., tit. 2, subtit. G, app. A (West 2005) (Tex. State Bar R. art. X, §9). Further, "[a] lawyer shall not make a statement that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge, adjudicatory official or public legal officer, or of a candidate for election or appointment to judicial or legal office." TEX. DISCIPLINARY RULES PROF'L CONDUCT R. 8.02(a) reprinted in TEX. GOV'T CODE ANN., tit. 2, subtit. G, app. A (West 2005) (Tex. State Bar R. art. X, §9).
Moreover, attorneys who appear in civil and criminal cases before the Court shall comply with the following standards of practice in the Eastern District of Texas:
LOCAL RULE AT-3.
Once a court finds that counsel or an unrepresented party has violated Rule 11, it has discretion to impose an appropriate sanction. Although the discretion in fashioning an appropriate sanction is broad, the sanction imposed should be the "least severe sanction" adequate to deter future violations of Rule 11. Merriman, 100 F.3d at 1194. Sanctions may be monetary or nonmonetary, and may include striking the offending exhibit or dismissal of a claim or defense. Id.
After the Court issued its Show Cause Order, Mosser filed a sixty-page response (Dkt. #250). In his response, Mosser claimed that he was "at a loss" because he did not understand how any "of the statements identified in the Court's Order [met] any [of the] requirement[s] for sanctions addressed in [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure] 11(b)(1)-(4)." (Dkt. #250 at p. 7). Because Mosser did not understand what was sanctionable about his comments, the Court started the Show Cause Hearing intending for it to be educational for Mosser, as opposed to imposing sanctions upon Mosser. The Court tasked itself to teach Mosser how his statements violated Rule 11 and disrespected the Court. Unfortunately, Mosser spurned the Court's advice and support. At every turn, Mosser was unapologetic, unwilling to admit that his word choices were disrespectful, and stood firm in his argument that his words were justified. With this backdrop, the Court analyzes whether sanctions are appropriate in this matter.
In his response, Mosser argues that he did not get proper notice because "[t]he Court's order cites no specifics on what basis it is issuing the show cause order." (Dkt. #250 at p. 7). Mosser contends that the quoted passages in the Court's Show Cause Order "provide no assistance in Mosser determining what, if any rule, he has violated—since the quotes are predominantly those of opposing counsel, Jim Jeffrey." (Dkt. #250 at p. 7).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 requires that the "order imposing a sanction must describe the sanctioned conduct and explain the basis for the sanction." FED. R. CIV. P. 11(c)(6). The notice required for sanctions is based on the conduct sanctioned by the Court. "An attorney who files court papers with no basis in fact needs no more notice than the existence of Rule 11 itself." Merriman, 100 F.3d at 1191 (citing Spiller, 919 F.2d at 346; Veillon v. Expl. Servs., Inc., 876 F.2d 1197, 1202 (5th Cir. 1989)). "However, where a party files papers in court without any basis in law, due process requires specific notice of the reasons for contemplating sanctions." Id. (emphasis in original) (citing Spiller, 919 F.2d at 346-47). "Such notice may take the form of a personal telephone call, a letter, or a timely Rule 11 motion." Id. (citing Veillon, 876 F.2d at 1202). Further, for the sake of Rule 11, due process does not require an actual hearing. Id. at 1192. Rather, the opportunity to respond through written submissions usually constitutes a sufficient opportunity to be heard. Id.
Here, the Court finds, as will be further discussed, that Mosser submitted papers that had no basis in fact, and as such, Mosser "needs no more notice than the existence of Rule 11 itself." Id. (citing Spiller, 919 F.2d at 346; Veillon, 876 F.2d at 1202). The Court first notes that Mosser previously had notice of the existence of Rule 11, as Mosser filed Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83). However, the Court additionally issued its Show Cause Order, which provided the basis for the sanction as Rule 11 and described the sanctioned conduct by directly quoting the statements the Court found sanctionable (Dkt. #239). Furthermore, the Court gave Mosser the opportunity to be heard both in writing, through his response (Dkt. #250), and at an approximately two-hour Show Cause Hearing, which the Court is not required to provide. Merriman, 100 F.3d at 1191. As such, the Court is satisfied that the Court complied with the Rule 11 requirements. See Bullard v. Chrysler Corp., 925 F.Supp. 1180, 1184 (E.D. Tex. 1996) (citations omitted).
In an order imposing sanctions, the Court "must specifically describe the conduct thought to be a violation of Rule 11." Id. at 1186 (citations omitted). Accordingly, the Court will detail the statements it has identified as sanctionable in this order ("Sanctions Order"). As previously mentioned, the Court looks to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct 3.03 and 8.02, and Local Rule AT-3 when determining whether the comments made in this case are sanctionable. These rules require that statements made to the Court must be (A) based in fact and (B) display respect and civility. The Court addresses each requirement in turn.
Before the Court details the arguments surrounding each statement, the Court addresses one argument that Mosser consistently made throughout the Show Cause Hearing and his briefing. Mosser frequently details the inappropriate and disrespectful comments opposing counsel made toward Mosser, and his co-counsel, during the course of the litigation. However, the basis of the Show Cause Order, Show Cause Hearing, and, now, this Sanctions Order, is the statements that Mosser made that were disrespectful to the Court. Counsel's interactions and conduct toward each other are immaterial for the purposes of the Show Cause Order, Show Cause Hearing, and Sanctions Order. Accordingly, the Court will not engage in an analysis regarding such conduct.
Statements made to the Court must be based in fact with evidentiary support and must be made without reckless disregard to their truth or falsity. FED. R. CIV. P. 11(b)(3); TEX. DISCIPLINARY RULES PROF'L CONDUCT R. 3.03(a)(1); TEX. DISCIPLINARY RULES PROF'L CONDUCT R. 8.02(a). As the Court did in its almost two-hour Show Cause Hearing, the Court will go through each comment it deemed sanctionable and analyze why each statement is factually unsupported.
The Court identified the sentence "the Court was less than concerned about this concealment" as the sanctionable statement in this paragraph. The applicable definition of "concern" is "to be a care, trouble, or distress to."
Mosser claims that the Court's denial of Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #100) is factual support for his contention that the Court was "less than concerned" about the alleged concealment (Dkt. #250 at pp. 8-9). He further maintained that "each and every time Mosser pointed to the emails demonstrating the falsity of the statements made by [Defendants] and their attorney, the Court declined to address it." (Dkt. #250 at p. 9) (citing Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140). During the Show Cause Hearing, Mosser provided the following documents as examples of times he claims the Court failed to address the concealment of documents, which Mosser claims demonstrate that the Court was "less than concerned" about such concealment: Plaintiff's Response to Defendants' Motion and Brief to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #88); Jabary's Motion to Compel (Dkt. #128); Plaintiff's Objection to Magistrate Judge's Reports and Recommendations (Dkt. #89); Plaintiff's Motion for Continuance and Memorandum in Support ("Jabary's Motion to Continue") (Dkt. #141); Plaintiff's Response to Defendant the City of Allen's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #186); Jabary's Motion Requesting Status Conference and Revised Orders on Discovery (Dkt. #235), which initiated the Court's Show Cause Order; Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242); Jabary's Response to Previously Unopposed Motion to Extend Deadline (Dkt. #243); and Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log (Dkt. #245).
This is the exact point of the Court's Show Cause Order, Show Cause Hearing, and, now, Sanctions Order. Mosser's opinion or interpretation of the way the case has proceeded does not provide a factual basis for a statement regarding the intent of the Court. The Court will examine each piece of evidence Mosser offered to support his statement in turn.
Mosser presented Jabary's Motion for Sanctions as evidence that the Court was "less than concerned" with the concealment of documents. Mosser claims that Jabary obtained documents as a result of an open records request that the City concealed from Jabary in his initial disclosure and during the discovery process (Dkt. #250 at p. 8). This conduct formed the basis of Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83). Mosser maintained that the Court responded to Jabary's Motion for Sanctions against the City with only one line and made no mention of the underlying conduct, which is support for the contention that the Court was "less than concerned" about the concealment (Dkt. #250 at p. 9).
As it pertains to Jabary's Motion for Sanctions, the order states: "[i]t is further
Mosser claims that Jabary's Motion and Memorandum in Support of Motion for Relief from Judgment ("Jabary's Motion to Alter Judgment") (Dkt. #124) and the Court's corresponding responses to such motion (Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140) provide factual support for his statement. Jabary filed a Motion to Alter Judgment based on the discovery of the documents he alleges the City concealed (Dkt. #124). The Court denied Jabary's Motion to Alter Judgment because the motion was filed over a year after the Court entered judgment, and was, therefore, filed late (Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140). The Court never reached the merits of Jabary's motion (Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140). The Court's denial of a motion as time-barred offers no factual support for Mosser's bold assertion that the Court "was less than concerned," or in other words, not troubled or distressed by the concealment or did not care about the concealment of documents.
Mosser argues that Jabary's Response to Defendants' Motion and Brief to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #88) and Plaintiff's Objection to Magistrate Judge's Reports and Recommendations (Dkt. #89) are examples of times that Jabary complained of the City's concealment of documents and the Court declined to address the conduct.
On January 19, 2012, Jabary improperly filed Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint, without seeking leave of Court, adding allegations from the alleged concealed documents (Dkt. #77). Despite Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint, the undersigned issued reports and recommendations granting the Individual Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiff's second amended complaint (Dkt. #78) and granting in part the City's motion to dismiss Plaintiff's second amended complaint (Dkt. #79). Subsequently, on February 3, 2012, the Individual Defendants filed their Motion & Brief to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim ("Individual Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint") (Dkt. #86) and Jabary filed a response on February 8, 2012 (Dkt. #88). Then, on February 9, 2012, Jabary filed objections to the reports and recommendations arguing Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint was the live pleading and arguing that Defendants' answers and motions relied on false statements, which Jabary claimed could be proven false by the concealed documents (Dkt. #89).
The Court struck Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint because Jabary did not properly seek leave of Court, as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,
What is absent from this order is any statement from the Court about its internal cares, troubles, or distresses regarding the alleged concealment of documents. As such, Plaintiff's response to the Individual Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #88), Plaintiff's Objection to Magistrate Judge's Reports and Recommendations (Dkt. #89), and the corresponding order (Dkt. #100) give no indication regarding the Court's concerns. Accordingly, these documents do not offer any factual support for Mosser's sanctionable statement.
Mosser contends that Jabary's Motion to Compel (Dkt. #128) and Jabary's Motion to Continue (Dkt. #141) prove that the Court was "less than concerned" with the City's conduct in this case.
When Jabary filed his Motion to Compel, he made no mention of the City's concealment of documents; Jabary instead complained that McCullough and Terrell limited their participation in discovery to qualified immunity (Dkt. #128). Jabary argued that discovery should be open as to all relevant matters because the Fifth Circuit already determined that McCullough and Terrell were not entitled to qualified immunity in this case (Dkt. #128). However, the Fifth Circuit only held that "[i]n this matter on appeal, these two defendants can cite no `extraordinary circumstances' to prove that they `neither knew nor [that they] should have known' of Jabary's right to due process. . . . As such, the defendants have not, on appeal, demonstrated a right to qualified immunity." (Dkt. #122 at p. 16) (citing Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818-19 (1982)) (emphasis added). With that, the Court denied Jabary's Motion to Compel (Dkt. #131 at p. 2). The Court found that the issue of qualified immunity was not yet settled and Fifth Circuit precedent only permitted limited discovery on the issue of qualified immunity until the facts needed to rule on the immunity claims were uncovered (Dkt. #131 at p. 2).
Neither motion asks the Court to grant any relief based on the alleged concealment of documents, or even mentions the concealment of documents (Dkt. #128; Dkt. #141). Accordingly, the Court's denial of these requests do not indicate the Court's thoughts or feelings on the concealment of documents. Therefore, the same provides no factual support for the statement that the Court was "less than concerned" with the City's concealment of documents.
Mosser asserts that the Court declined to address the City's conduct when Jabary raised the concealment of documents in his response to the City's motion for summary judgment (Dkt. #186). In response to the City's motion for summary judgment, Jabary objected to summary judgment evidence for a variety of reasons, one of those being that emails obtained in the open records request disproved the statements made in McCullough's declaration. See, e.g., (Dkt. #186 at pp. 16, 19-20). The Court overruled Plaintiff's objections to the documents, without commenting on the underlying reasons for its decision, because it did not rely on the evidence (Dkt. #205 at p. 6 n.4) (explaining that if the Court relied on any of the objected-to evidence, the Court would do an analysis of the objection at the time it used the evidence). The Court did not overrule the objections because it was less than troubled by a party concealing documents; the Court overruled the objection because it did not rely on the evidence.
This is further supported by the Court's holding in regards to the City's motion for summary judgment. As to the takings claim, the Court held that such claim was barred by res judicata, collateral estoppel, and was not ripe (Dkt. #205 at pp. 10-12).
Mosser maintains that Jabary's Motion Requesting Status Conference and Revised Orders on Discovery (Dkt. #235) is an example of an occasion where Jabary complained of the concealment of documents and the Court declined to address the concealment.
In his motion requesting a status conference, which is one of the two documents that initiated the Show Cause Order, the Show Cause Hearing, and this Sanctions Order, Jabary did reference the concealment of documents—namely in making this sanctionable statement, and many other sanctionable statements, to the Court. However, the only relief Jabary asked for was a status conference and revised orders on discovery (Dkt. #235). The Court granted such request. The Court held a status conference after the Show Cause Hearing on October 13, 2017. During the status conference, the Court clarified that discovery was open to all relevant matters and had been open since the issue of qualified immunity was settled, which was when the Fifth Circuit remanded the case for further proceedings after affirming the Court's rulings on the motions for summary judgment. The Court had already discussed this issue with the parties at the June 20, 2017 status conference. The Court granted all the relief Jabary requested in his motion. At no point did the Court discuss its internal thoughts, feelings, cares, troubles, or distresses regarding the concealment of documents. As such, this motion does not offer any proof for Mosser's sanctionable word choice concerning the Court's inner thoughts or concerns.
Mosser avers that Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242), Jabary's Response to Previously Unopposed Motion to Extend Deadline (Dkt. #243), and Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log (Dkt. #245) are all examples of times that Jabary pointed to the alleged concealment of documents and the Court declined to address the conduct. While these documents do reference the shielding or concealment of documents, the Court had not yet ruled on the motions prior to the Show Cause Hearing. After the Show Cause Hearing, the Court held a status conference to discuss the pending matters. During the status conference, the Court made clear that it was not extending the trial deadline but would allow for discovery past the discovery deadline. Further, the Court ruled on Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log after reviewing privilege logs and documents in camera (Dkt. #268). The Court granted the motion in part, only preventing discovery of information that was privileged (Dkt. #268). Nothing the Court did in ruling on these motions provides factual support for the contention that the Court "was less than concerned" with the concealment of documents. In fact, the Court granted most of the relief Jabary sought in these motions. As this was Mosser's last offer of proof supporting his first sanctionable statement, the Court finds there is no factual support for the statement, and it is a violation of Rule 11.
There are three separate comments that the Court recognized as sanctionable in this paragraph. Mosser provided distinct evidence for all three statements; as such, the Court will separate the analysis by the three different sanctionable statements.
Condone means "to regard or treat (something bad or blameworthy) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless." MERRIAM WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY, https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/condone (March 15, 2018). Accordingly, Mosser has to produce evidence to suggest how the Court regarded or treated the City's alleged concealment of documents as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless. Mosser claims that Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83), the City's Response Opposing Plaintiff's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #96), and the Court's corresponding order (Dkt. #100) prove that the Court condoned the concealment of documents (Dkt. #250 at p. 11).
As the Court previously noted,
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously examined to support the statement that the Court was "less than concerned" with the concealment of documents, that evidence is equally unavailing to provide factual support that the Court condoned the concealment of documents. Accordingly, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
Mosser argues that in making recommendations on the motions to dismiss, the undersigned disregarded several statements as conclusory. Mosser further contends that the concealed documents prove that each and every statement the Court disregarded as conclusory actually happened (Dkt. #250 at pp. 15-25). During the Show Cause Hearing, Mosser also referred to the Court's actions in striking Jabary's Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #100), the Court's ruling on Jabary's Motion to Alter Judgment (Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140), the Court's order on Jabary's Motion to Compel (Dkt. #131), Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242), Jabary's Response to Previously Unopposed Motion to Extend Deadline (Dkt. #243), and Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log (Dkt. #245). The Court has previously addressed why these motions and corresponding orders did not offer factual support for the statement that the Court was "less than concerned" about the concealment of documents, and they similarly do not provide any factual support for the statement that the "Court disregarded what actually happened." None of these motions, responses, or corresponding orders provide any information concerning what the Court regarded or disregarded in making its decision, except for the reports and recommendations on the motions to dismiss (Dkt. #78; Dkt. #79). In recommending that the Court grant the Individual Defendants' motion to dismiss and grant in part the City's motion to dismiss, the undersigned identified thirty statements in Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint and Rule 7(a) Reply as conclusory and, thus, "disregard[ed the statements] in considering the motion [to dismiss]." (Dkt. #78; Dkt. #79). Accordingly, the Court will engage in further analysis as to the reports and recommendations on the motions to dismiss.
The Supreme Court of the United States has established a two-step approach for courts to apply when considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. First, the Court should identify and disregard conclusory allegations for they are "not entitled to the assumption of truth." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679-80 (2009). Second, the Court "consider[s] the factual allegations in [the complaint] to determine if they plausibly suggest an entitlement to relief." Id. Therefore, in making the recommendations, the undersigned looked to Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint and Rule 7(a) Reply and determined that certain statements were conclusory.
Mosser claims that the Court's order on Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #100), the striking of Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #100), and the motions for summary judgment provide a factual basis for the statement that the Court ignored contradictions and evidence in this case (Dkt. #250 at pp. 25-26). Mosser claims that the contradictions between McCullough's declaration and deposition are apparent, and the Court has yet to address the contradictions (Dkt. #250 at p. 26). He further claims that the declarations are "clearly a sham, [but] this Court did not believe so." (Dkt. #250 at p. 26). To support this claim, Mosser cited the following explanation and excerpts of the Court's rulings on McCullough and Terrell's motion for summary judgment: "Doc. 182, (`Magistrate Judge overruled Plaintiff's objections to the declaration, and found that the "deposition of McCullough closely follows the statements made in However, the Fifth Circuit declined to engage in an in-depth analysis of "Jabary's claims regarding an alleged conspiracy to deprive him of his Certificate by way of police harassment, because that conduct did not result in an actual deprivation necessary to support a conspiracy claim under § 1983 to deny him due process of law." (Dkt. #122 at p. 17). his affidavit. . ." [Doc. #151 at 9].'); But see, Doc. 182, pg 5 (`This is quite different testimony from that contained in McCullough's declaration.')." (Dkt. #205 at p. 26) (alterations in original).
As an initial matter, the first sentence quoted from the Order Adopting Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge (Dkt. #182) is the Court's summary of Defendants' objections. (Dkt. #182 at p. 3); accord (Dkt. #153 at p. 8). Further, the undersigned overruled Jabary's objections to McCullough's affidavit because it did not use the affidavit in making the recommendation (Dkt. #151 at p. 1 n.1). The undersigned did not overrule the objection because it did not believe the declaration was a sham; it simply did not use the declaration. Moreover, the statement quoted from the undersigned's report and recommendation reflects the undersigned's reasoning for allowing Jabary to supplement his response. Jabary filed Plaintiff's Opposed Motion and Memorandum in Support for Leave to Supplement its Response to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #146) to include McCullough's deposition as part of the summary judgment record. The undersigned allowed the supplement, finding it would not cause any prejudice, would be helpful in resolving the motion, and was not the result of any improper purpose or delay (Dkt. #151 at p. 9). The undersigned then, using McCullough's deposition, recommended denial of the motion for summary judgment as to McCullough, in part, because there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether exigent circumstances existed (Dkt. #151 at p. 17). Turning to the next sentence Mosser quoted from the Order Adopting Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge (Dkt. #182), the Court acknowledged the contradictions between the declaration and the deposition and found this created a fact issue (Dkt. #182 at p. 5). This is quite the opposite of "ignor[ing] . . . fundamental contradictions." Mosser's proffered evidence disproves his assertion.
At the hearing, Mosser also argued that every single dispositive motion, the Court's corresponding rulings, Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83), and the Court's order striking Plaintiff's Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #100) all prove that the Court ignored the emails and the contradictions contained in the affidavits.
To the extent Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously addressed, that evidence is similarly unavailing to provide factual support regarding the Court's decision-making process and what it considered or did not consider in making its rulings. Mosser has no factual support for the contention that the Court ignored any evidence, documents, or facts when making its rulings in this case. Indeed, the evidence Mosser used to support his word choice demonstrates that his statement is completely unsupported and false. Therefore, this statement is sanctionable under Rule 11.
The definition of "believe" is "to consider to be true or honest." MERRIAM WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/believe (March 15, 2018). Thus, Mosser would need to provide factual support for the Court's inner thoughts on what it considered to be true or honest. Mosser argues that when the undersigned's reports and recommendations on the motions to dismiss are compared with the emails Jabary obtained through the open records request, this statement is factually supported. As the Court previously analyzed, the reports and recommendations on the motions to dismiss (Dkt. #78; Dkt #79), and the order adopting those recommendations (Dkt. #100), do not provide any support for the Court's thoughts; they similarly do not provide support for what the Court considered to be true or honest, or, in other words, what the Court believes. The Court agrees that it found
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously considered, that evidence is likewise unsuccessful in providing factual support for what the Court "believed." Accordingly, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
The Court reads the next two sanctionable statements together to state that "Plaintiff gave up in the hopes of justice" because this Court is not "seeking the truth." In his response, Mosser clarified that Jabary had not given up hope, but that this statement came from Mosser's own depression and frustration (Dkt. #250 at p. 28). He continued on to argue that Jabary's Motion to Compel (Dkt. #128), the corresponding order (Dkt. #131), and the report and recommendation that recommended granting the Individual Defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. #78) demonstrate how the proceedings in this case accurately represent the statement that he made. Mosser additionally argues that the Court's order on Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #100) is factual support for the contention that the Court is not seeking the truth in this matter. During the hearing, Mosser also referenced the Court's denial of Jabary's Motion to Alter Judgment (Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140).
These statements cannot be proven in fact. As previously stated, the Court denied Jabary's Motion for Sanctions, as it deemed no relief was appropriate at the time the motion was filed (Dkt. #100). The Court ruled on the motions to dismiss as the Court determined was correct according to the law (Dkt. #78; Dkt. #79; Dkt. #100). The Fifth Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part, and at that point the Court resumed the case as to the defendants the Fifth Circuit deemed appropriate (Dkt. #122). Further, the Court ruled on Jabary's Motion to Compel, only allowing discovery permitted by Fifth Circuit precedent (Dkt. #131). Lastly, Jabary's Motion to Alter Judgment was denied as untimely (Dkt. #132; Dkt. #140). Even though he attempted to do so, Mosser cannot point to anything in the record to support the contention that the Court was not permitting justice to be done and was not seeking the truth in this case. The Court followed the law as it applied to this case.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously analyzed herein, that evidence is equally unavailing to provide factual support for the contention that the Court did not seek the truth in this case and was not administering justice. Accordingly, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
The Court identified the statement "if the Court refuses to permit justice be done and again deny Jabary his due process" as the sanctionable statement in this sentence. In his response, Mosser does not offer any factual support for this statement
As the Court previously noted, the Court denied Jabary's Motion to Compel, only permitting discovery on qualified immunity because that was all that was allowed at that stage of the proceeding pursuant to Fifth Circuit law (Dkt. #131). Jabary never filed another motion asking the Court to reconsider or another motion to compel at a later date.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously detailed herein, that evidence is similarly unpersuasive to provide factual support that the Court refused to permit that justice be done. Therefore, the statement that the "Court refuses to permit justice be done" and is repeatedly "deny[ing] Jabary his due process" is factually unsupported and sanctionable under Rule 11.
The Court identified the statement that the "Court[] refus[ed] to consider the email chain," as the sanctionable comment in this sentence. In his response, Mosser failed to identify any factual support for this statement,
Once again, Mosser relies on his own perception of what the Court did and why the Court ruled in the manner that it did. In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the Court must consider all of the evidence but "refrain from making any credibility determinations or weighing the evidence." Turner v. Baylor Richardson Med. Ctr., 476 F.3d 337, 343 (5th Cir. 2007) (citing Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150 (2000)). Nowhere in the report and recommendation does it state that the undersigned refused to consider the email chain (Dkt. #151). To the contrary, the undersigned referenced the emails attached to Plaintiff's Response to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #151 at pp. 3, 12). With the evidence before the Court and without making any credibility determinations or weighing the evidence, the undersigned recommended that the Court should deny the motion for summary judgment against McCullough, finding that there was a fact issue for the jury to decide (Dkt. #151 at pp. 17, 32) and the Court adopted such recommendation (Dkt. #182).
Further, Mosser's claim that the Court would have ruled differently on the motion for summary judgment regarding exigent circumstances if the Court had considered the emails is perplexing. The Court denied the motion for summary judgment as to McCullough. The Court found there were genuine issues of material fact, specifically regarding exigent circumstances (Dkt. #151 at pp. 17-18; Dkt. #182 at p. 5). The Court could not grant summary judgment in Jabary's favor because he never filed a motion for summary judgment.
If Mosser is referring to the fact that the Court would have ruled differently on Terrell's motion for summary judgment, this argument is contradicted by the fact that the undersigned specifically referenced the emails in the recommendation to grant Terrell's motion (Dkt. #151 at p. 12). If Mosser is referring to the City's motion for summary judgment, the Court granted summary judgment as to the takings claim based on res judicata, collateral estoppel, and ripeness; and as to the due process claim, because McCullough was not a policymaker. This decision was based not on declarations that can allegedly be proven by emails to be lies, but instead on the City's charter and the City's land development code. Nothing about these rulings suggests that the Court refused to consider the emails attached to the motion for summary judgment.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously examined, that evidence is likewise fruitless to provide factual support that the Court refused to consider evidence. Accordingly, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
The Court identified the statement that "this Court continually declines to address" "false representations" as the sanctionable statement in this paragraph. In this context, address means "to direct the efforts or attention of (oneself)" or "to deal with." MERRIAM WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/address (March 15, 2018). Accordingly, Mosser would have to provide factual support for the contention that the Court continually declined to deal with the false representations or continually declined to direct its efforts or attention toward the false representations. In his response to the Show Cause Order, Mosser again referenced Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83) and the corresponding order (Dkt. #100) as evidentiary support for his statements. He also compared the Individual Defendants' various responses with Jabary's Motion for Sanctions and Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242). During the hearing, Mosser additionally discussed Jabary's Motion to Compel (Dkt. #128) and the Court's corresponding order (Dkt. #131) as factual support for this statement.
Whether or not the Court specifically referenced the conduct in ruling on Jabary's Motion for Sanctions bears no weight on whether the Court dealt with or directed its efforts or attention to the alleged false representations. The simple fact that the Court denied Jabary's Motion for Sanctions does not provide any support for the contention that the Court declined to direct its attention or efforts toward false representations. Indeed, the Order demonstrates that the Court directed its attention and efforts to false representations by denying Jabary's Motion for Sanctions.
Further, comparing the Individual Defendants' answers to a motion to extend discovery does not provide any evidence of what the Court "address[ed]." There was nothing for the Court to "address" aside from granting the motion to extend discovery, which in fact the Court did at the status conference after the Show Cause Hearing. Finally, as has been previously discussed, the Court allowed for the discovery permitted at the relevant times. These motions and orders offer no factual support for the statement that the Court "continually decline[d] to address" false representations or, in other words, that the Court declined to direct its attention to or declined to deal with false representations.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously scrutinized, that evidence is equally unavailing to provide factual support that the Court declined to address false representations. Accordingly, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11 and is sanctionable.
The sanctionable statement identified by the Court in this sentence is: "had the Court been concerned more with the existence of the emails . . . a different result would have been had." This statement is similar to the first sanctionable statement identified by the Court, that the Court was "less than concerned" with the concealment of documents. Mosser again identifies Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83) and the corresponding order denying the motion (Dkt. #100) as factual support for this statement. Yet again, this motion and corresponding order fail to prove that the Court was not concerned with the emails or, in other words, did not care, was not troubled by, or was less than distressed about the emails. Mosser continually relies on his opinion of why the Court did what it did, which is not appropriate factual support.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously considered, that evidence is similarly unavailing to provide factual support for the assertion that the Court was not concerned with the emails. Accordingly, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11. This statement is therefore sanctionable under Rule 11.
The last two sentences of the paragraph are the statements the Court identified as sanctionable. In response to the Show Cause Order, Mosser argues that he "repeatedly prayed for the Court's intervention, pointed to specifics, and even called upon the State Bar to assist—none have addressed the conduct that persists even today." (Dkt. #250 at p. 47). In support of his argument, Mosser cites Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83), Plaintiff's Response to Defendants' Motion and Brief to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint (Dkt. #88), Plaintiff's Objection to Magistrate Judge's Reports and Recommendations (Dkt. #89), Jabary's Motion to Continue (Dkt. #141), Plaintiff's Response to Defendant the City of Allen's Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #186), Jabary's Motion Requesting Status Conference and Revised Orders on Discovery, which initiated the Court's Show Cause Order, (Dkt. #235), Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242); Jabary's Response to Previously Unopposed Motion to Extend Deadline (Dkt. #243); and Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log (Dkt. #245).
The Court has previously addressed each of these alleged supporting documents and analyzed why they failed to provide support for the allegation that the Court was "less than concerned" with the concealment of documents. This analysis applies with equal weight to why they fail to provide factual support for the accusation that the Court "continues to ignore Jeffrey's pleaded falsehoods." None of these documents offers any support for the decision-making process or the inner thoughts of the Court. To the extent that Mosser offers other documents the Court previously inspected, that evidence is also unconvincing in providing factual support that the Court ignored any pleaded falsehoods. Thus, this statement is also factually unsupported and a violation of Rule 11, which warrants sanctions.
The Court identified Mosser's sanctionable statement, perhaps his most offensive statement, in this paragraph as, "[i]ndeed, maybe if Jabary had used enough creative adjectives and pretended differently, the Court would have ruled in his favor."
In the Court's order on Jabary's Motion to Compel, the Court briefly summarized the parties' arguments. In so doing, the Court explained:
(Dkt. #131 at p. 2) (emphasis added). The Court then proceeded to engage in an analysis on what discovery was permitted under Fifth Circuit law (Dkt. #131 at pp. 1-2). The Court determined that Fifth Circuit precedent only allowed discovery as to qualified immunity because of the stage of the litigation (Dkt. #131 at p. 1). It was accordingly unnecessary for the Court to engage in an analysis of what type of discovery Jabary sought from Defendants or whether or not Jabary was "pretending" in his motion. Therefore, the use of this "creative adjective" was immaterial and had no effect on the Court's ruling. The Court's order does not offer any support for the bold allegation that the Court makes its decisions based on the use of creative adjectives.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously analyzed, that evidence is equally unavailing to provide factual support that the use of creative adjectives sways the Court's rulings. As such, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
The Court acknowledged the sentence, "[i]t is disappointing that these beliefs[, that opposing counsel will lie to the Court,] are continually ratified," as the sanctionable sentence in this paragraph. To ratify means "to approve and sanction formally." MERRIAM WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratify (March 15, 2018). As such, Mosser would need to provide factual support for what the Court approved of or sanctioned formally. To support this statement, Mosser claims that he is "depressed and disappointed" and "frustrate[ed]" that the Court has never addressed opposing counsel's conduct in this case (Dkt. #250 at pp. 53-54). Mosser additionally cited the Court's Memorandum Adopting Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge (Dkt. #100), the Court's Order Denying Motion to Compel (Dkt. #131), Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242), and Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log (Dkt. #245).
Mosser's disappointment, depression, or frustration does not provide any factual support for what the Court does or does not approve or ratify. At no point when making any of its rulings did the Court state approval of or ratify any alleged lying. Specifically, as to the motions Mosser referred to in his response to the Show Cause Order, in ruling on Jabary's Motion for Sanctions, the Court stated: "[i]t is further
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously considered, that evidence is equally unavailing to provide factual support that the Court ratified lying to the Court. Therefore, this statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
The Court recognized the last sentence of this paragraph to be sanctionable "[t]here is no reason this Court should condone Jeffrey's discovery games, false representations, and childish name-calling." As the Court previously mentioned, the definition of condone is "to regard or treat (something bad or blameworthy) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless." MERRIAM WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condone (March 15, 2018). As such, Mosser must provide evidence of what the Court regarded as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless. In response to the Show Cause Order, Mosser referenced Jabary's Motion for Sanctions (Dkt. #83), Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery (Dkt. #242), and Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log (Dkt. #245).
The Court has already explained why these documents do not prove that the Court condoned the concealment of documents and they equally do not support that the Court is "condon[ing any] discovery games, false representations, [or] childish name-calling." The Court denied Jabary's Motion for Sanctions because it found no relief could be granted at the time (Dkt. #100). Further, the Court orally granted Jabary's Opposed Emergency Motion to Extend Discovery and granted in part Jabary's Emergency Motion to Compel Production or Privilege Log after a review of a privilege log (Dkt. #268). These rulings offer no support as to the Court's thoughts on what it regarded as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless.
To the extent that Mosser offers any of the documents the Court previously examined, that evidence is equally unavailing to provide factual support that the Court condoned discovery games, false representations, and childish name-calling. Accordingly, Mosser's final sanctionable statement does not have any factual support and is in violation of Rule 11.
An attorney appearing in the Eastern District of Texas must act with the utmost personal integrity, professional integrity, civility, and professionalism. LOCAL RULE AT-3(C); LOCAL RULE AT-3(E). Further, attorneys in the Eastern District of Texas must always act with candor, diligence, and the utmost respect toward the Court. LOCAL RULE AT-3(B). The Court expects a higher standard of conduct from the lawyers that practice in front of it. LOCAL RULE AT-3(K).
Mosser argues that several of his comments are not disrespectful because he is attempting to challenge the doctrine of qualified immunity itself, as opposed to criticizing the Court. However, this argument is utterly unavailing. It is belied by the sheer number of times that Mosser included the phrase "this Court," or some variation, in his twelve sanctionable statements—a total of fifteen times. Further, Mosser continually references "this case" as opposed to qualified immunity cases in general. At no point in his response to the Show Cause Order did Mosser claim to be challenging the doctrine of qualified immunity; Mosser instead pointed to specific instances of the Court's actions to support his statements. Moreover, not once when reading the Motion Requesting Status Conference and Revised Orders on Discovery (Dkt. #235), Reply to Response to Request for Status Conference (Dkt. #237), or the Response to Show Cause Order (Dkt. #250) did the Court, or opposing counsel,
Mosser, although he claims he does not, challenges the Court's ability to follow its oath. Every judge that has been assigned as the United States District Judge or United States Magistrate Judge on this case took the following oath: "I, [Amos L. Mazzant, III or Michael H. Schneider or Ron Clark], do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [United States Magistrate Judge or United States District Judge] under the Constitution and laws of the United States; and that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." 28 U.S.C. § 453.
Mosser accused the Court of: refusing to permit justice to be done, in contravention of its oath to "administer justice without respect to persons"; creating a double-standard in the case, in contravention of its oath to "faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all duties"; failing to consider evidence, in contravention of its oath to "perform all the duties incumbent upon [a United States Judge] under the Constitution and laws of the United States"; condoning the alleged concealment of documents thereby preventing Jabary's recovery of his alleged civil rights violations, in contravention of its oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic"; and depriving Jabary his due process rights, in contravention of its oath to "bear true faith and allegiance to the [Constitution of the United States]." Mosser eviscerates the integrity of each individual judge who has been assigned to this case since its inception in 2010. Mosser makes such bold, disrespectful, and inappropriate comments with a complete and absolute lack of factual or evidentiary support. Mosser repeatedly attempts to impose his view of how this case has proceeded, his perception of why the Court ruled the way that it did,
The Court notes that had Mosser simply disagreed with the Court's rulings, it would not be issuing this Sanctions Order. Litigants express disagreement with the Court's rulings by filing appropriate motions to reconsider and/or notices of appeal. Mosser has evidenced his knowledge of this procedure by appealing the Court's decisions in this case to the Fifth Circuit twice. However, the statements identified herein clearly surpass mere disagreement with the Court's rulings and are flagrantly disrespectful to the Court. Consequently, the Court finds Mosser did not comply with Local Rule AT-3 when he made the previously identified statements.
Although the discretion in fashioning an appropriate sanction is broad, the sanction imposed should be the "least severe sanction" adequate to deter future violations of Rule 11. Merriman, 100 F.3d at 1194. Sanctions may be monetary or nonmonetary. FED. R. CIV. P. 11 advisory committee's note to 1993 amendment. In determining whether to impose a sanction, the Court should consider
Id.
The Show Cause Order, Show Cause Hearing, and Sanctions Order identified factually unsupported and disrespectful comments that Mosser made in two documents (Dkt. #235; Dkt. #237). During the Show Cause Hearing, Mosser repeatedly asserted that he did not understand how his statements were unsupported in fact, and even maintained that he did not understand how all of his statements were disrespectful.
However, although Mosser is a young lawyer, he is, in fact, trained in the law. While the Court is only sanctioning Mosser for statements in two documents, the Court observed other sanctionable comments in Mosser's response to the Show Cause Order. Further, after the Court explained how the statements were disrespectful and unsupported in fact, Mosser did not apologize
It is therefore