Altesse Healthcare Solutions, Inc. v. Wilson

Trial courts have broad authority to impose appropriate sanctions on recalcitrant litigants. In re Bennett , 960 S.W.2d 35, 40 (Tex. 1997). That authority is not, however, without limits. We previously held that "a direct relationship must exist between the offensive conduct and the sanction imposed." TransAmerican Natural Gas Corp. v. Powell , 811 S.W.2d 913, 917 (Tex. 1991). In other words, a court imposing sanctions must seek to ensure that "[t]he punishment ... fit[s] the crime." Id. Accordingly, so-called death-penalty sanctions, under which the offending party essentially loses the case…