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Appellate Practice

Jan. 4, 2006

Courts' Response to Shoddy Appellate Practice? Pony Up!

Foucs Column - By Benjamin Shatz and Michael M. Berger - Once upon a time conventional wisdom held that appellate courts were too busy and too above the fray of trial-court litigation to get their hands messy with something as distasteful as imposing sanctions. If ever that were true, it is no longer.

Benjamin G. Shatz

Partner Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

Appellate Law (Certified), Litigation

Email: bshatz@manatt.com

Benjamin is a certified specialist in appellate law who co-chairs the Appellate Practice Group at Manatt in the firm's Los Angeles office. Exceptionally Appealing appears the first Tuesday of the month.

Michael M. Berger

Senior Counsel Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

2049 Century Park East
Los Angeles , CA 90067

Phone: (310) 312-4185

Fax: (310) 996-6968

Email: mmberger@manatt.com

USC Law School

Michael M. Berger is senior counsel at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, where he is co-chair of the Appellate Practice Group. He has argued four takings cases in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Once upon a time conventional wisdom held that appellate courts were too busy and too above the fray of trial-court litigation to get their hands messy with something as distasteful as imposing sanctions. If ever that were true, it is no longer.

Certainly trial courts have more interaction with counsel, and thus more opportunity to sanction misbehavior. But four recent appellate decisions from four courts - issued in the span of only two days - should dispel any belief that the app...

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