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Robert E. Kovacevich v. Gordon R. Finch, et al.

Paid petition · Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 3, No. 36940-4-III, 37322-3-III, 37444-1-III · judgment May 5, 2021


Certiorari denied · March 21, 2022
Pre-decision estimate: 0% cert probability

Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.

Question presented

The state courts have failed to dismiss a civil contempt that was decided during trial. The case was later settled. The failure conflicts with three decisions of this Court, Gompers v. Buck’s Stove and Range Co., 221 U.S. 418, 452, 31 S.Ct. 492, 55 L.Ed. 797 (1911); Shillitani v. U.S., 384 U.S. 364, 372, 86 S.Ct. 1531, 16 L.Ed.2d 622 (1966); and Spallone v. U.S., 493 U.S. 265, 280, 110 S.Ct. 625, 107 L.Ed.2d 644 (1990) requiring the least intrusive remedy. All three of these decisions vacated civil contempt fines after the cases settled or the term had expired. (i)

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Robert E. Kovacevich

For respondent

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Proceedings

  1. Mar 21 2022
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Feb 23 2022
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/18/2022.
  3. Dec 22 2021
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 7, 2022)