United States v. Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
678 F.2d 1 (1982)

- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
Robert Belanger (defendant) was the president of a local chapter of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization. Belanger was held in civil contempt for violating a preliminary injunction order issued by the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. The order restricted the number of picketers allowed at events during a nationwide air traffic controller strike. Belanger violated this order several times, and the court found him in civil contempt. The court fined Belanger $5,000. Belanger appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, arguing that the $5,000 fine was punitive and impermissible in a civil-contempt proceeding.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Torruella, J.)
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