In a recent ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, renowned attorney Alan Dershowitz escaped personal liability in the sanctions levied against the legal team representing Kari Lake, a former Arizona gubernatorial candidate. The appellate court acknowledged Dershowitz’s “of counsel” status, which exempts him from the personal sanctions imposed on the primary attorneys involved in the case.
The decision comes amid two split-panel rulings from the Ninth Circuit, which upheld sanctions on attorneys Andrew Parker and Kurt Olsen. The court affirmed that the district court did not exceed its authority in awarding attorney’s fees under Rule 11(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The ruling was based on Parker and Olsen’s submission of “false, misleading, and unsupported factual assertions” in their legal pleadings and their motion for a preliminary injunction.
While the court spared Dershowitz from the monetary penalties, it did not extend the same leniency to his colleagues. This outcome underscores the nuances of legal responsibilities and sanctions, particularly concerning the varied roles within a legal team. For more details on the court’s decision, readers can access the full report from Bloomberg Law.