In a stunning ruling, a Louisiana attorney faces hefty penalties exceeding $29,000 for her relentless pursuit of futile legal maneuvers, the Fifth Circuit announced today.
Reckless Legal Maneuvers
Christine Mire, the embattled attorney, found herself in hot water after persisting in attempts to resurrect a doomed case for her client’s state university medical residency. Despite repeated warnings from judges to abandon her failed arguments, Mire forged ahead, resulting in severe consequences.
Louisiana attorney To Pay $29K For Frivolous Filings : Judicial Reprimand
A three-judge panel firmly rejected Mire’s challenge to sanctions imposed by a Louisiana federal judge. The penalties stemmed from Mire’s insistence on pursuing an irrelevant argument, which the court had previously dismissed. Judge Leslie H. Southwick emphasized the objective nature of the sanctions, denouncing Mire’s attempts to resurrect a matter already thrice rejected.
Spiraling Consequences
The Fifth Circuit’s ruling adds to the mounting legal woes for Mire and her client, J. Cory Cordova. Cordova, held in contempt for failing to pay over $50,000 in prior sanctions, faces additional penalties. His lawsuit against Louisiana State University’s medical residency program and affiliated hospital companies has encountered repeated setbacks, with courts consistently rejecting attempts to revive it.
Louisiana attorney To Pay $29K For Frivolous Filings : Escalating Penalties
The panel not only upheld sanctions against Mire but also endorsed further penalties for prolonging the litigation unnecessarily. Despite previous warnings, frivolous arguments persisted, prompting the court to intervene once more. Cordova, already burdened with substantial penalties, faces additional sanctions after the court deemed his earlier appeal frivolous.
Previous Legal Troubles
Mire’s current predicament isn’t her first brush with legal controversy. In 2016, the Louisiana Supreme Court suspended her license and mandated ethics training following public accusations against a judge.
Louisiana attorney To Pay $29K For Frivolous Filings : Silence from the Defense
Neither Mire nor representatives for the hospitals implicated in the lawsuit provided immediate comments on the ruling.
Judicial Panel and Legal Representation
U.S. Circuit Judges Patrick E. Higginbotham, Carl E. Stewart, and Leslie H. Southwick presided over the panel for the Fifth Circuit. The hospitals are represented by James H. Gibson and Stacy N. Kennedy of Gibson Law Partners, while Mire represents herself.
