Legal Opinion
Evans, Joy v. Williams, Anthony A.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Decided March 31, 2000No. 99-7058PublishedCited by 31 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge SILBERMAN.
SILBERMAN, Circuit Judge:
The District of Columbia appeals from an order of the district court imposing contempt fines of $5,096,340 on it for its failure to comply with a consent decree. We agree with appellant that the fine was a criminal sanction that could not be imposed without a criminal trial; we also agree that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to modify the consent decree. We therefore reverse.
I
This case started back in 1976, when residents of Forest Haven, the District of Columbia’s institution for the mentally…
2Cases cited14 opinions
- Gompers v. Bucks Stove & Range Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1911
- United States v. Swift & Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1932
- International Union, United Mine Workers v. BagwellSupreme Court of the United States · 1994
- Rufo v. Inmates of Suffolk County JailSupreme Court of the United States · 1992
- Bloom v. IllinoisSupreme Court of the United States · 1968
9 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by31 opinions
- SALAZAR EX REL. SALAZAR v. District of ColumbiaCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 2010
- Landmark Legal Foundation v. Environmental Protection AgencyDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2003
- Cobell v. NortonDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 2002
- Harvey v. District of ColumbiaCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 2015
- In Re Guardianship of SchiavoDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida · 2001
26 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.