In Re Contempt of Rapanos

Defendant appeals as of right from his January 10, 1984, conviction by the trial judge on four counts of criminal contempt. On February 3, 1984, defendant was fined and sentenced to serve five days imprisonment for each of his convictions, the terms to run concurrently. Defendant appeals as of right.

According to the evidence in this case, defendant’s brother, Nicolaos Rápanos, filed a civil suit against defendant on August 4, 1981, after the two brothers’ 30-year business relationship as Rapanos Enterprises had deteriorated. On that same day, the trial court issued a temporary restraining…