Harry Wayne Casey v. Richard R. Finch

Summary

The Florida Third District Court of Appeal affirmed orders discharging show cause orders against Richard R. Finch and his attorney, Evan Cohen, without holding them in contempt. The court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the alleged conduct—pursuing federal copyright termination and declaratory relief—did not clearly warrant a contempt finding under the applicable injunctions.

Holdings

1. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by discharging the show cause orders without holding Finch and Cohen in contempt.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion by discharging the show cause orders and declining to hold Finch and Cohen in contempt.
2. Whether the filing of Finch's federal declaratory-relief lawsuit clearly violated the 1986 or 2004 state-court injunctions for purposes of contempt.

Disposition

affirmed