Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 1 FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT June 29, 2022 _________________________________ Christopher M. Wolpert Clerk of Court FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION; UTAH DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION,
Plaintiffs,
v. No. 21-4141 (D.C. No. 2:19-CV-00713-DAK-DAO) ZURIXX; CARLSON DEVELOPMENT (D. Utah) GROUP UTAH; CJ SEMINAR HOLDINGS; ZURIXX FINANCIAL UTAH; CHRISTOPHER A. CANNON; JAMES M. CARLSON; JEFFREY D. SPANGLER; BRAND MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS; CAC INVESTMENT VENTURES; CARLSON DEVELOPMENT GROUP PUERTO RICO; DORADO MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT; JSS INVESTMENT VENTURES; JSS TRUST; ZURIXX FINANCIAL PUERTO RICO; GERALD D. SPANGLER,
Defendants.
------------------------------
DAVID K. BROADBENT,
Receiver - Appellee,
v.
DAVID EFRON; EFRON DORADO SE,
Interested Parties - Appellants. Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 2
_________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT* _________________________________
Before TYMKOVICH, Chief Judge, MORITZ and EID, Circuit Judges. _________________________________
David Efron and Efron Dorado, SE (collectively, Efron), appeal for the second
time from a civil contempt order entered against them by the district court. For reasons
we recently explained in Efron’s previous appeal, see FTC v. Zurixx (Zurixx I), 26 F.4th
1172, 1177-78 (10th Cir. 2022), we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction because
the challenged contempt order is not a final decision.
I
This appeal stems from a consumer protection suit initiated in the district court by
the Federal Trade Commission and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection against
Zurixx, LLC and related entities. During those proceedings, the district court entered a
preliminary injunction freezing Zurixx’s assets wherever located and directing that any
person or business in possession of such assets preserve them for a court-appointed
receiver. The injunction directed the receiver to “[t]ake exclusive custody, control, and
possession of all [a]ssets and [d]ocuments of, or in the possession, custody, or under
* After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. 2 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 3
control of, any [Zurixx] Entity, wherever situated.” Aplee. App., vol. 1 at 188; see also
28 U.S.C. § 754 (“A receiver appointed in any civil action or proceeding involving
property, real, personal or mixed, situated in different districts shall . . . be vested with
complete jurisdiction and control of all such property with the right to take possession
thereof.”). Absent leave of court, the injunction prohibited “[p]ersons seeking to
establish or enforce any claim, right, or interest against . . . [Zurixx] . . . from taking
action that would interfere with the exclusive jurisdiction of [the] Court over the [a]ssets
or [d]ocuments of [the Zurixx] Entities, including” by “[c]ommencing . . . a judicial . . .
action or proceeding against the [Zurixx] Entities” or engaging in “acts of self-help.”
Aplee. App., vol. 1 at 195-96.
The receiver filed a copy of the consumer-protection complaint and the injunction
in federal court in Puerto Rico, where Zurixx leased office space from Efron. The office
contained Zurixx’s computers, furniture, and other assets. The receiver notified Efron of
the receivership and gave him actual notice of the injunction. Efron initially permitted
the receiver to recover some assets, but he later denied the receiver access to the office
and instituted eviction proceedings in a Puerto Rico court.
Given these events, the receiver moved the district court in Utah to hold Efron in
contempt for violating the injunction. The district court granted the motion and found
Efron in contempt, but it gave him an opportunity to purge the contempt, either by
allowing the receiver to recover the assets or by compensating the receiver for the value
of the assets. Efron appealed, and in Zurixx I, we dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,
explaining that a nonparty contemnor like Efron may take an immediate appeal from a
3 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 4
final decision holding him in contempt, but to qualify as a final decision under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291, the district court must both make a finding of contempt and impose a specific,
unavoidable sanction. 26 F.4th at 1177-78. Because the district court imposed no
sanction and allowed Efron to purge the contempt, we dismissed for lack of a final
decision. See id. at 1178.
Meanwhile, Efron continued to deny the receiver access to the assets.
Consequently, the receiver moved for a second order of contempt, arguing that Efron
continued to defy the injunction and obstruct his efforts to recover the assets. Efron
responded that the assets had since been turned over to the receiver, who acknowledged
as much but pointed out that he recovered the assets only after incurring considerable
delay and expense. The receiver also argued that Efron repeatedly violated the
injunction, not only by wrongfully retaining the assets and filing the eviction proceeding,
but also by filing an intervenor complaint in the federal court in Puerto Rico.
The district court agreed with the receiver and issued a second contempt order,
stating:
The court finds Efron and Efron Dorado in contempt of court for their continued defiance of the Preliminary Injunction and this court’s prior Contempt Order. The court awards the Receiver reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in this contempt litigation and the unnecessary cases in Puerto Rico, including the Receiver’s fees. The Receiver may file documents demonstrating those fees and costs within thirty days of the date of this Order.
Aplt. App., vol. 1 at 202. Before the receiver filed a statement of fees and costs,
Efron filed his notice of appeal, designating the second contempt order. Additional
proceedings ensued, although they are not the subject of this appeal. Indeed, the
4 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 5
receiver subsequently filed a statement of fees and costs, which a magistrate judge
granted. The district court eventually entered judgment on the fee award, and Efron
filed yet another notice of appeal, which was docketed as Appeal No. 22-4042. Efron
also contemporaneously filed in this court a motion to stay execution of the judgment
on the fee award pending the outcome of this appeal. That stay motion is pending
before us.
II
Under 28 U.S.C.
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Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 1 FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT June 29, 2022 _________________________________ Christopher M. Wolpert Clerk of Court FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION; UTAH DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION,
Plaintiffs,
v. No. 21-4141 (D.C. No. 2:19-CV-00713-DAK-DAO) ZURIXX; CARLSON DEVELOPMENT (D. Utah) GROUP UTAH; CJ SEMINAR HOLDINGS; ZURIXX FINANCIAL UTAH; CHRISTOPHER A. CANNON; JAMES M. CARLSON; JEFFREY D. SPANGLER; BRAND MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS; CAC INVESTMENT VENTURES; CARLSON DEVELOPMENT GROUP PUERTO RICO; DORADO MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT; JSS INVESTMENT VENTURES; JSS TRUST; ZURIXX FINANCIAL PUERTO RICO; GERALD D. SPANGLER,
Defendants.
------------------------------
DAVID K. BROADBENT,
Receiver - Appellee,
v.
DAVID EFRON; EFRON DORADO SE,
Interested Parties - Appellants. Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 2
_________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT* _________________________________
Before TYMKOVICH, Chief Judge, MORITZ and EID, Circuit Judges. _________________________________
David Efron and Efron Dorado, SE (collectively, Efron), appeal for the second
time from a civil contempt order entered against them by the district court. For reasons
we recently explained in Efron’s previous appeal, see FTC v. Zurixx (Zurixx I), 26 F.4th
1172, 1177-78 (10th Cir. 2022), we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction because
the challenged contempt order is not a final decision.
I
This appeal stems from a consumer protection suit initiated in the district court by
the Federal Trade Commission and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection against
Zurixx, LLC and related entities. During those proceedings, the district court entered a
preliminary injunction freezing Zurixx’s assets wherever located and directing that any
person or business in possession of such assets preserve them for a court-appointed
receiver. The injunction directed the receiver to “[t]ake exclusive custody, control, and
possession of all [a]ssets and [d]ocuments of, or in the possession, custody, or under
* After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. 2 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 3
control of, any [Zurixx] Entity, wherever situated.” Aplee. App., vol. 1 at 188; see also
28 U.S.C. § 754 (“A receiver appointed in any civil action or proceeding involving
property, real, personal or mixed, situated in different districts shall . . . be vested with
complete jurisdiction and control of all such property with the right to take possession
thereof.”). Absent leave of court, the injunction prohibited “[p]ersons seeking to
establish or enforce any claim, right, or interest against . . . [Zurixx] . . . from taking
action that would interfere with the exclusive jurisdiction of [the] Court over the [a]ssets
or [d]ocuments of [the Zurixx] Entities, including” by “[c]ommencing . . . a judicial . . .
action or proceeding against the [Zurixx] Entities” or engaging in “acts of self-help.”
Aplee. App., vol. 1 at 195-96.
The receiver filed a copy of the consumer-protection complaint and the injunction
in federal court in Puerto Rico, where Zurixx leased office space from Efron. The office
contained Zurixx’s computers, furniture, and other assets. The receiver notified Efron of
the receivership and gave him actual notice of the injunction. Efron initially permitted
the receiver to recover some assets, but he later denied the receiver access to the office
and instituted eviction proceedings in a Puerto Rico court.
Given these events, the receiver moved the district court in Utah to hold Efron in
contempt for violating the injunction. The district court granted the motion and found
Efron in contempt, but it gave him an opportunity to purge the contempt, either by
allowing the receiver to recover the assets or by compensating the receiver for the value
of the assets. Efron appealed, and in Zurixx I, we dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,
explaining that a nonparty contemnor like Efron may take an immediate appeal from a
3 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 4
final decision holding him in contempt, but to qualify as a final decision under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1291, the district court must both make a finding of contempt and impose a specific,
unavoidable sanction. 26 F.4th at 1177-78. Because the district court imposed no
sanction and allowed Efron to purge the contempt, we dismissed for lack of a final
decision. See id. at 1178.
Meanwhile, Efron continued to deny the receiver access to the assets.
Consequently, the receiver moved for a second order of contempt, arguing that Efron
continued to defy the injunction and obstruct his efforts to recover the assets. Efron
responded that the assets had since been turned over to the receiver, who acknowledged
as much but pointed out that he recovered the assets only after incurring considerable
delay and expense. The receiver also argued that Efron repeatedly violated the
injunction, not only by wrongfully retaining the assets and filing the eviction proceeding,
but also by filing an intervenor complaint in the federal court in Puerto Rico.
The district court agreed with the receiver and issued a second contempt order,
stating:
The court finds Efron and Efron Dorado in contempt of court for their continued defiance of the Preliminary Injunction and this court’s prior Contempt Order. The court awards the Receiver reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred in this contempt litigation and the unnecessary cases in Puerto Rico, including the Receiver’s fees. The Receiver may file documents demonstrating those fees and costs within thirty days of the date of this Order.
Aplt. App., vol. 1 at 202. Before the receiver filed a statement of fees and costs,
Efron filed his notice of appeal, designating the second contempt order. Additional
proceedings ensued, although they are not the subject of this appeal. Indeed, the
4 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 5
receiver subsequently filed a statement of fees and costs, which a magistrate judge
granted. The district court eventually entered judgment on the fee award, and Efron
filed yet another notice of appeal, which was docketed as Appeal No. 22-4042. Efron
also contemporaneously filed in this court a motion to stay execution of the judgment
on the fee award pending the outcome of this appeal. That stay motion is pending
before us.
II
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, our jurisdiction generally extends only to “final
decisions” of the district court. See Amazon, Inc. v. Dirt Camp, Inc., 273 F.3d 1271,
1275 (10th Cir. 2001).1 In Zurixx I, we recognized that nonparties need not await entry
of final judgment in the underlying action to appeal a civil contempt order, but we
explained that the contempt order must still qualify as a final decision. See 26 F.4th at
1177. To constitute a final decision, a contempt order must include both (1) a finding of
contempt and (2) a specific, unavoidable sanction. Id. at 1177-78. “Without imposition
of a specific, unavoidable sanction, [a] contempt order [is] not a final, appealable
decision under § 1291, and we lack jurisdiction to consider it.” Id. at 1178.
Efron, as a nonparty, was entitled to take an immediate appeal from the second
contempt order. But that order was not a final decision. The second contempt order
found Efron in contempt and it awarded the receiver reasonable attorney’s fees and costs
1 Efron summarily reasserts a number of alternative jurisdictional theories that we rejected in Zurixx I. See 26 F.4th at 1176-77. We decline to repeat that analysis here. 5 Appellate Case: 21-4141 Document: 010110703166 Date Filed: 06/29/2022 Page: 6
incurred in the contempt proceedings and the two Puerto Rico cases. Yet the contempt
order did not indicate what the specific sanction would be. Rather, the district court
merely directed the receiver to file a statement of fees and costs within thirty days, after
which it would be required to issue another order to specify the amount of the sanction.
Efron nevertheless filed his notice of appeal, even though several more procedural steps
remained before the district court imposed a specific sanction. Thus, because the second
contempt order did not impose a specific, unavoidable sanction, it was not a final
decision. See id.; see also 15B Charles Alan Wright et al., Federal Practice & Procedure
§ 3917 (2d ed. June 2022 Update) (“A determination that contempt has occurred is not
final if the question of sanctions is postponed. . . . Finality . . . requires determination of
both liability and sanction . . . .”); accord Am. Soda, LLP v. U.S. Filter Wastewater Grp.,
Inc., 428 F.3d 921, 924 (10th Cir. 2005) (“An award of attorneys’ fees is not final and
appealable within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1291 until it is reduced to a sum certain.”).
Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction. And given the dismissal, we
deny Efron’s stay motion without prejudice to him refiling it in Appeal No. 22-4042.
III
This appeal is dismissed. Efron’s motion for stay is denied without prejudice to
him refiling it in Appeal No. 22-4042.
Entered for the Court
Allison H. Eid Circuit Judge