Menke v. Wendell

Frank Menke, III, petitions this court for a writ of'certiorari seéking to quash an order of the trial court finding him in contempt for a discovery violation, sanctioning him $20,000, and ordering that his pleadings be stricken should he fail to pay the fine within thirty days. For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that the order departs from the essential requirements of law. Accordingly, we grant the petition and quash the order for sanctions and contempt.

I. THE FACTS

Mr. Menke is the defendant in' a lawsuit brought by Gary Wendell and Donna Wendell, who invested in Mr. Menke’s heal…