Judicial Response: Rare Financial Sanctions
The court’s decision to impose attorney fee sanctions represents an unusual but warranted response to egregious deposition conduct. Federal judges rarely order parties to pay opposing counsel’s legal fees solely based on behavior during depositions, making this ruling particularly significant in legal circles.
When Megan’s legal team filed a motion in April questioning why Lanez shouldn’t be held in contempt for derailing the proceedings, they gave him until April 30th to respond. Lanez failed to file any response or request additional time, essentially defaulting on his opportunity to defend his conduct.
The judge’s ruling goes beyond mere financial penalty. Future depositions involving Lanez will be supervised by a magistrate judge to prevent similar disruptions. Additionally, Megan’s team is pushing for the appointment of a special master—at Lanez’s expense—to oversee future testimony, adding another layer of judicial oversight to ensure proper legal proceedings.
