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Linscott v. Foy
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT					Reporter of Decisions
Decision:	1998 ME 206
Docket:	Yor-97-703	
Argued:	June 8, 1998
Decided:	August 11, 1998	


Panel:	WATHEN, C.J., and ROBERTS, CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, and SAUFLEY, JJ.

CRAIG LINSCOTT

v.

JAMES FOY et al.

SAUFLEY, J.
	
	[¶1]  This is James Foy's fourth appeal to this Court in connection
with the litigation between him, Craig Linscott, and their related
corporations, SMA Insurance Agency, Inc. and Berwick Insurance, Inc.  Foy
appeals from two post-judgment orders entered in the Superior Court (York
County, Perkins, A.R.J.) in favor of Craig Linscott, contending, inter alia, that
the court exceeded the bounds of its discretion when it enforced an order of
specific performance and imposed sanctions on Foy.  We find no error in the
order of enforcement or the imposition of certain sanctions.  However,
because the record does not reveal the basis for certain other sanctions
imposed by the court, we affirm in part and vacate in part.

I.  Background 

	[¶2]  Prior to 1989, Foy was the sole shareholder of SMA and Linscott
was the manager of the corporation.{1}  In January 1989, Linscott filed an
action against Foy and SMA for breach of Foy's alleged agreement to transfer
50% of the SMA stock to Linscott.  During the pendency of that action,
Berwick Insurance, Inc. (Berwick), a corporation controlled by Foy, filed an
action against Linscott for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.  The court
appointed a receiver pendente lite to manage the business and affairs of
SMA. 
	[¶3]  In April 1993, Linscott and Foy entered into a global settlement
agreement, whereby Linscott agreed to transfer $800,000 and his Berwick
stock to Foy in exchange for Foy's SMA stock.  The agreement required
Linscott and SMA to deliver general releases of "any and all claims" against
Foy and Berwick.  Similarly, Foy and Berwick were required to execute
general releases in favor of Linscott and SMA.{2}  The agreement also required
Foy, Linscott, SMA, and Berwick to execute stipulations of dismissal for
filing in Linscott's action and in Berwick's action.  
	[¶4]  When Foy failed to close the transaction in accordance with the
terms of the agreement, Linscott amended his original complaint by adding
a count seeking specific performance.  Following a four-day bench trial on
the specific performance count, the court found that Foy had failed to
comply with the terms of the agreement, entered a judgment in favor of
Linscott on the specific performance count, and directed Foy to close the
transaction in accordance with the terms of the agreement within fourteen
business days of the date of final judgment.  Foy appealed, and we affirmed
the judgment in a memorandum of decision.  
	[¶5]  Foy did not comply with the specific performance judgment. 
Instead, shortly after our affirmance of that judgment, he filed an action in
United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire against SMA
and the receiver, both individually and in his capacity as receiver, regarding
SMA's income.{3}  The Superior Court authorized the receiver to retain
counsel, and ordered that Foy and Linscott share the receiver's attorney fees
equally.  Despite this order, Linscott alone advanced the funds for the
attorney fees incurred by the receiver.  
	[¶6]  On the heels of the action in federal court, Berwick filed another
complaint against the receiver and SMA in the Hillsborough County, New
Hampshire Superior Court seeking damages for unpaid funds and an
accounting of SMA's finances.  On the same day, Berwick commenced an
action against Linscott in Superior Court (York County) seeking a declaration
that Berwick was not bound by the Linscott-Foy agreement.   Although
Berwick's request for a voluntary nonsuit was granted in November 1996,
SMA and the receiver each retained counsel to defend against the action in
New Hampshire state court.  
	[¶7]  Because Foy continued to resist closing, Linscott moved,
pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 70, for an order in the original specific performance
proceeding directing the receiver to transfer SMA's assets and liabilities to
Linscott. The court granted Linscott's motion, and, on June 14, 1995,
ordered the receiver to transfer SMA's assets and liabilities (except for its
tax liability) to Linscott's new corporation, to dissolve SMA, and to file the
corporation's final tax return.  The order also provided that "[w]hen and if
Foy signs all documents contemplated by the Settlement Agreement and
otherwise cooperates with Linscott in obtaining financing such that Linscott
is able to obtain financing, Linscott shall pay in escrow to the court or to
receiver as escrow agent the purchase price of $800,000."  Subsequently,
the receiver transferred all of SMA's assets and liabilities, except its tax
liabilities, to Linscott's new corporation.  Foy remained the sole shareholder
of SMA, but declined to execute the documents contemplated by the
agreement.
	[¶8]  During 1996, all other outstanding litigation between the parties
was resolved in Linscott's favor.  In January 1996, the court entered a
summary judgment in favor of Linscott in Berwick's declaratory judgment
action on the ground that the judgment in Linscott's action operated as res
judicata.  Citing this summary judgment and the terms of the agreement, the
court also dismissed Berwick's separate action against Linscott.  We affirmed
both judgments.  See Berwick Ins., Inc. v. Linscott, 684 A.2d 795 (Me.
1996).  
	[¶9]  In September 1997, Linscott filed a supplemental petition for
attorney fees in the original proceeding, requesting either that: (1) the
entire purchase price under the settlement agreement be abated, with
Linscott bearing the responsibility for the fees and expenses of SMA and the
receiver, as well as any taxes owed by SMA; or (2) that all fees and expenses
incurred by the receiver and SMA and advanced by Linscott, as well as the
attorney fees incurred by Linscott, be assessed against Foy or ordered paid
by SMA via a credit against the $800,000 price.{4}  In October 1997, the
receiver filed a consolidated report and a proposed accounting.  According
to the report, the receiver had incurred fees and costs totalling
$182,160.79 in defending against the actions filed by Foy, fees and costs
that "would not have been incurred had [Foy] complied with the terms of
the settlement agreement."{5}  
	[¶10]  After hearing, the court issued an order on November 28, 1997
abating the $800,000 purchase price in its entirety, directing Linscott to
bear his own attorney fees and costs along with those of the receiver and
SMA, and requiring Linscott to deposit $360,000 into an escrow account to
cover any state or federal tax liability of SMA.{6}  Pursuant to the order, any
portion of the escrowed $360,000 not applied to discharge SMA's tax
obligations was to be disbursed to Linscott.  Because no tax liability was
ultimately assessed against SMA, the $360,000 in the escrow account
together with accrued interest, less the 5% fee imposed by 4 M.R.S.A. § 556
(1989 & Supp. 1997), has been released to Linscott.{7}  The order provided
that it was "without prejudice to the resolution of any dispute between
[Linscott] and [Foy] about tax liability concerning or related to SMA."  From
the court's June 14, 1995, order and its November 28, 1997 order, Foy
filed this appeal. 

II.  Rule 70 and the Asset Transfer

	[¶11]  Foy first contends that the court exceeded the bounds of its
discretion by ordering the receiver to transfer SMA's assets and liabilities to
Linscott, when the judgment ordering specific performance of the
settlement agreement referred to a stock transfer.  Foy claims that the asset
transfer was a significant deviation from the terms of the agreement, since it
left him with the SMA stock and therefore the possible income tax liability
for income that the receiver distributed to Linscott.  We disagree. 
	[¶12]  In pertinent part, Maine Rule of Civil Procedure 70 provides:  

If a judgment directs a party to . . . perform any . . . specific act
and the party fails to comply within the time specified, the court
may direct the act to be done at the cost of the disobedient party
by some other person appointed by the court . . . .

M.R. Civ. P. 70 (emphasis added).  Rule 70 "restates the inherent power of a
court to enforce its own decrees and provides for performance by a
substitute in the event of disobedience of the defendant."  Adams v. Alley,
308 A.2d 568, 572 (Me. 1973); see also 7 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore's
Federal Practice ¶ 70.02 (2d ed. 1994) ("When a party has failed to comply
with the terms of an agreement that settles litigation . . . the court may
exercise its inherent power to enforce the agreement pursuant to Rule
70.").  In direct contravention of the trial court's judgment, Foy declined to
transfer the stock and refused to close in accordance with the terms of the
agreement.  In response, the court entered an order that effectuated the
near equivalent of a stock transfer but did not require Foy's cooperation to
complete.{8}
	[¶13]  There is no merit in Foy's argument that the court should have
chosen a different method of enforcement, namely appointment of a
commissioner to transfer of the stock, when Foy could have accomplished
that result himself.  The simple and unavoidable fact is that Foy had the
ability to transfer his SMA stock to Linscott at any time, but chose to ignore
multiple court orders requiring him to do just that.  Although the court had
the authority to choose a different method of enforcing its order, the
availability of another option does not compel the conclusion that the court
exceeded its authority or exceeded the bounds of its discretion.  In view of
Foy's indefatigable recalcitrance against Linscott and the receiver, it was
clear that he did not intend to comply with the court's order.  On the facts
before it, the trial court possessed the authority to order an asset transfer to
enforce its specific performance judgment.
	[¶14]  We similarly find no merit in Foy's contention that the court's
Rule 70 order effectively "shifted the tax burden on SMA profits paid to
Linscott from Linscott to Foy."  Uncertainty concerning federal income
taxes, an issue not explicitly addressed by the terms of the settlement
agreement or the specific performance judgment, does not provide Foy with
justification for his wholesale refusal to comply with the court's order.{9} 
Moreover, his claim of unfairness rings hollow where he could have
eliminated his concern about the continuing generation of tax liability by a
simple transfer of the stock.

III. Award of Attorney Fees and Expenses and Imposition of Sanction

	[¶15]  Foy next contends that the court's abatement of the entire
purchase price for the SMA stock effectively charged him with Linscott's
and the receiver's fees and expenses and imposed an additional
$383,612.42 sanction on him.{10}  Although the court's decision to sanction
Foy through the abatement of the purchase price in the amount of the fees
and costs incurred by Linscott was within its authority and did not
constitute an abuse of discretion, we are unable to discern the reason for the
abatement of the remainder of the purchase price.

A.  Award of Attorney Fees and Costs

	[¶16]  Whether the court was authorized to award attorney fees in
these circumstances is a question of law.  See Gibson v. Farm Family Mut.
Ins. Co., 673 A.2d 1350, 1354 (Me. 1996).  The court's authority to award
attorney fees "may be determined by statute, by the 'American Rule' at
common law that generally prohibits taxing the losing party in litigation with
a successful opponent's attorney fees, or by certain recognized common law
authorizations of attorney fees."  See id. (emphasis added).  Although the
prevailing party is not ordinarily entitled to an award of attorney fees, courts
may award fees as damages for certain egregious conduct.  See Chadwick-
BaRoss, Inc. v. T. Buck Constr., Inc., 627 A.2d 532, 536 (Me. 1993).  "[T]he
trial court does possess inherent authority to sanction parties and attorneys
for abuse of the litigation process."  Chiapetta v. LeBlond, 544 A.2d 759, 760
(Me. 1988) (quoting Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31, 82 S. Ct.
1386, 1388-89, 8 L. Ed. 2d 734 (1962)); see also Chambers v. NASCO, Inc.,
501 U.S. 32, 46, 111 S. Ct. 2123, 2133, 115 L. Ed. 2d 27 (1991) (stating
that the federal district court has inherent power to impose attorney fees as
a sanction when a party shows bad faith by hampering enforcement of a
court order).
	[¶17]  Because of the strictures of the well-established "American
Rule," courts should exercise the inherent authority to award attorney fees
as a sanction only in the most extraordinary circumstances.  As we cautioned
in Chiapetta, the court's authority to sanction parties and attorneys for abuse
of the litigation process "should be sparingly used and sanctions imposed
only when the abuse of process by parties or counsel is clear."  Chiapetta,
544 A.2d at 761.  In other words, attorney fees may not be awarded as a
sanction in the absence of significant bad faith on the part of a litigant or his
agents.
	[¶18]  Foy's actions here were unquestionably egregious.  He
repeatedly refused to comply with a final order of the court.  Instead of
transferring the stock, executing the releases contemplated by the
settlement agreement, and ending the expensive and time-consuming
litigation that prompted the settlement, Foy filed multiple suits in several
jurisdictions.  Despite his protestations, these suits amounted to little more
than collateral attacks on the order to close the settlement agreement. 
Even if aspects of the settlement were not fully addressed by the agreement,
these lacunae did not justify an obstinate refusal to comply with a valid order
to close in accordance with the agreement.  In short, we have no difficulty
concluding that these actions were undertaken in bad faith and were abusive
of the court and the other parties, thereby providing the court with
authority to consider imposition of attorney fees.
	[¶19]  The next issue is whether the court exceeded its discretion by
awarding the entire amount of the attorney fees and costs as a sanction.  See
Gibson, 673 A.2d at 654.  The court implicitly determined that an offset of
the purchase price was necessary in view of the costs generated by Foy's
refusal to close.  Linscott not only advanced all of the funds for the receiver's
defense of Foy's actions, but also incurred substantial fees and costs in
defending himself against those actions.  These fees and costs would not
have been generated but for Foy's refusal to comply with the Rule 70 order. 
On this record, the trial court did not exceed the bounds of its discretion by
awarding Linscott over $400,000 of fees and costs.{11}

B.  Monetary Sanction

	[¶20]  Finally, we turn to Foy's argument that the difference between
the $800,000 purchase price and the fees and costs awarded to Linscott
constituted an unreasonable and excessive sanction.  The court could have
imposed further sanctions only pursuant to specific authority.  Conceivably,
that authority might have been found in M.R. Civ. P 11 or pursuant to the
court's inherent power to punish contempt.
	[¶21]  Unfortunately, the record does not reveal whether the court
intended to invoke its authority to impose sanctions pursuant to M.R. Civ. P.
11.  Cf. 2A James Wm. Moore et al., Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 11.02[4] at
11-73 (2d ed. 1994) (noting that, under F.R. Civ. P. 11, the trial court should
articulate the justification for imposing sanctions "[a]s a general practice,
and as an aid to appellate review.").  Similarly, although the court has
inherent power to impose sanctions for contempt, including failure to
comply with a lawful judgment or order, M.R. Civ. P. 66 establishes specific
procedures for exercising that authority.  See M.R. Civ. P. 66(a)(1).  Because
the court did not invoke the procedures set forth in Rule 66, we can only
assume that its order was not designed to punish Foy as a contemnor for his
failure to comply with the Rule 70 order. 
	[¶22]  Accordingly, we vacate the order to the extent that it
sanctioned Foy by abating the purchase price beyond that necessary to
compensate Linscott for his and the receiver's attorney fees and costs.  The
matter must be remanded for a determination of whether any of the funds
from the escrow account should have been retained by Linscott.  This
determination will necessarily involve a determination of whether a further
sanction against Foy is appropriate and, if so, in what amount.{12}  Upon
remand, the court may also consider whether to award additional attorney
fees generated through the date of its next hearing.
	The entry is:
Order dated June 14, 1995 affirmed.  Order
dated November 28, 1997 affirmed in part,
vacated in part.  Remanded for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Attorneys for plaintiff:

Sidney St. F. Thaxter, II,  Esq., (orally)
John D. Gleason, Esq.
Maurice A. Selinger, III, Esq.
Curtis Thaxter Stevens Broder & Micoleau, LLC
P O Box 7320
Portland, ME 04112-7320

Attorneys for defendants:

R. David DePuy, Esq., (orally)
Andrea L. Marston, Esq.
McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A.
P O Box 326
Manchester, NH 03105-0326

Jeffrey J. Clark, Esq.
Gregory J. Orso, Esq.
Erwin, Ott, Clark & Campbell
P O Box 545
York, ME 03909-0545

Attorneys for receiver:

Kaighn Smith, Jr.,  Esq., (orally)
Jerrol Crouter, Esq.
Drummond, Woodsum & MacMahon
P O Box 9781
Portland, ME 04104-5081