Independent Contractors of Maverick Transportation, LLC, d/b/a Maverick Transportation LLC Ind Cont., et al. v. Great West Casualty Company

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri holds in abeyance Great West Casualty Company’s motion to hold attorney Daniel P. Finney, III, in contempt for failing to pay an $88,346.50 sanctions award. The Court finds that Finney did not establish an inability to pay or make reasonable efforts to comply, but modifies the prior order to permit payment in twenty-two monthly installments. The first $4,000 installment is due April 6, 2026, with a final payment of $4,346.50.

Holdings

1. Finney failed to establish categorically and in detail that he was unable to pay the $88,346.50 sanctions award, and he also failed to show that he had made all reasonable good-faith efforts to comply.
2. The court held the contempt motion in abeyance and modified the prior sanctions order to require payment of $88,346.50 in twenty-two consecutive monthly installments of $4,000, with a final installment of $4,346.50.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Finney established an inability to comply with the prior sanctions order sufficient to avoid civil contempt.
2. Whether the court should hold Great West's contempt motion in abeyance while modifying the sanctions order to permit installment payments.

Disposition

other