G.J.B. & Associates, Inc. v. Singleton

BALDOCK, Circuit Judge.

Movant-appellant John Claro, an attorney, challenges the district court’s sua sponte imposition of sanctions upon him for violating Fed.R.Civ.P. 11 & 16(f) during trial of a legal malpractice action. Reviewing the district court’s determination under an abuse of discretion standard, Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., — U.S.-, 110 S.Ct. 2447, 2461, 110 L.Ed.2d 359 (1990) (Rule 11 standard); Ikerd v. Lacy, 852 F.2d 1256, 1258 (10th Cir.1988) (Rule 16(f) standard), we sustain the Rule 16(f) sanction as lawfully imposed, but vacate the Rule 11 sanction for want of procedural…