Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America v. Energy Gathering, Inc., John Fox, Movant-Appellant

POLITZ, Chief Judge:

John Fox, Esq., appeals the assessment of a $460,083 civil contempt sanction. We reverse, concluding that the imposition of this sanction in addition to incarceration was an abuse of discretion under the circumstances of this case.

Background

This is our second review of this case. The facts of the first action, Natural Gas Pipeline Co. v. Energy Gathering, Inc., 1 reflect that this civil RICO action was brought in 1988 under 18 U.S.C. § 1964 by appellees Texas Industrial Energy Co. and South Gulf Energy, Inc. against a dozen people, including Navarro Crowson, who allegedly…