The court imposed sanctions following a prior finding of civil contempt against a corporate respondent that failed to comply with court orders requiring disclosure and return of leased equipment.
Despite multiple opportunities to purge the contempt, the corporation and its controlling officer continued to ignore the orders and failed to appear at the sanctions hearing.
Applying factors from appellate and prior Superior Court jurisprudence concerning proportionality, mitigating and aggravating circumstances, deterrence, and denunciation, the court concluded that significant sanctions were required.
The corporation was fined and its sole officer and director was sentenced to a custodial term, with a warrant of committal issued unless compliance occurred.
The incarceration order could be set aside or shortened if the contemnor complied with the earlier court orders.
