Inland Group of Companies, Inc. v. Obendorff

TROUT, Chief Justice.

In this ease we determine whether a special master can use a contempt proceeding to collect fees owed him arising from a case which has been dismissed with prejudice.

I

BACKGROUND

The facts of this case are not complex. In 1994, Inland Group of Companies, Inc., d/b/a G & L Forest Products, Inc., sued T.J. Forest Inc. As part of the discovery process, the district court judge appointed Obendorff as special master to review and audit the records of T.J. Forest. The order appointing Obendorff as special master stated that the cost of the special master was to be shared equally…