Harrell v. Federal National Payables, Inc.

Barnes, Chief Judge.

Deborah and Melton Harrell appeal the trial court’s orders finding them in contempt and ordering their incarceration for failing to comply with post-judgment discovery. They contend that the trial court erred by entering a “self-executing order of contempt” without allowing them basic due process of notice and a hearing, with terms that were too indefinite and uncertain to enforce. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the trial court’s orders of incarceration and remand for further proceedings.

The Harrells guaranteed the debts of a company which failed to pay the…