Barrientos v. City of Los Angeles

Opinion

VOGEL (C. S.), J.

Introduction

This appeal contests the trial court’s order imposing a $1,500 sanction on each party’s attorney in a civil liability action. After examining the entire record, we find that the court’s order violated due process because counsel were neither notified of the court’s intent to impose sanctions nor given an opportunity to respond before the court imposed the sanctions. Additionally, we conclude that the court imposed the sanctions for an improper purpose—to punish counsel for failing to settle the case—thereby rendering its order an abuse of discretion. We…