11th Cir. R. 27-4: Sanctions for Filing a Frivolous Motion
Rules and Internal Operating Procedures of the Eleventh Circuit — Title VII. General Provisions
When a party or an attorney practicing before this court files a frivolous motion, the court may, on motion of a party, or on its own motion after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, impose an appropriate sanction on the party, the attorney, or both. For purposes of this rule, a motion is frivolous if:
(a) it is without legal merit and cannot be supported by a reasonable argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law, or the establishment of new law; or
(b) it contains assertions of material facts that are false or unsupported by the record; or
(c) it is presented for an improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation.
Sanctions may be monetary or nonmonetary in nature. Monetary sanctions may include an order to pay a penalty into the court, or an order directing payment to another party of some or all of the attorney’s fees and expenses incurred by that party as a result of the frivolous motion, or both.
When a motion to impose sanctions is filed under this rule, the court may, if warranted, award to the party prevailing on the motion reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses incurred in presenting or opposing the motion.