Only if that approach failed to produce compliance within a reasonable time should the question of imposing contempt sanctions against petitioners even have been considered.

The defense lawyers sought the fines as a contempt sanction against the network after the Friday broadcast.

He said then that he planned to go to court to seek "appropriate remedies," including contempt sanctions.

It had no power to subpoena witnesses, to impose contempt sanctions, or to assert sovereign authority over any individual.

The original jury award was vacated; however, the contempt sanctions were affirmed.

We recognize that civil contempt sanctions may not be imposed upon a person or entity unable to comply with a court's orders.

Having made that commitment, the City may properly be subjected to the coercive force of civil contempt sanctions until compliance with its commitment occurs.

But, even if the clause applies to punitive damages, the City offers no compelling reason why we should extend its reach to civil contempt sanctions.

Five news organizations are paying almost half that sum to avoid contempt sanctions against their reporters.

Specialists in media law said such a payment by news organizations to avoid a contempt sanction was almost certainly unprecedented.