United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Judges Patricia Wald, David B. Sentelle, and Ann Wilson Rogers

“ Although Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was revised effective December 1, 1993, the district court imposed sanctions under the pre-revision rule; thus, our review is limited to that former rule, which provided, in relevant part:
Every pleading, motion and other paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorneys individual name, whose address shall be stated. . . . The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certificate by the signer that the signer has read the pleading, motion, or other paper ”

“ In an April 9, 1991, article in the International Herald Tribune, Randi discussed Geller's claimed psychic abilities, stating that Geller "tricked even reputable scientists" with tricks that "are the kind that used to be on the back of cereal boxes when I was a kid. Apparently scientists don't eat cornflakes anymore." Based solely upon these statements, Geller filed suit against both Randi and CSICOP in United States District Court, alleging defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and tortious interference with prospective advantage. ”

“ We find nothing in the Rule that limits its applicability in cases in which a party fails to respond to a motion for sanctions. On the contrary, we conclude that, under District of Columbia local rules, a party can be sanctioned for a Rule 11 violation if that party fails to respond to a motion for Rule 11 sanctions. ”