In the case of Shelton v. Chaudhry, No. 24-5657 (E.D. Pa. Jan. 27, 2025 McHugh, J.), Eastern Federal District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh ripped a scathing Opinion meting out Rule 11 sanctions against a Plaintiff’s counsel for repeated violations.
According to the decision, in this case arisining out of a motor vehicle accident, the Court faulted the Plaintiff’s attorney for repeatedly filing a federal court Complaint rooted in diversity jurisdiction while, at the same time, pleading facts that established that such jurisdiction did not exist.
In his decision, Judge Hughes provides a thorough review of the current status of federal law in the context mandates imposed on attorneys under Rule 11 as well as when sanctions are warranted under that Rule.
In the end, the Court’s sanctions imposed included a reprimand addressed to Plaintiff’s counsel, the imposition of a $7,500 fine on the attorney, and the issuance of a directive that the attorney circulate the Court’s Opinion to the other members of the Plaintiff’s law firm at issue.
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