Section 7 Punishment

• Library: Remedies 2006

Punishment in civil contempt proceedings is remedial and coercive. Sanctions imposed as a result of a civil contempt judgment are meant as a remedy to coerce compliance and not to penalize as in criminal contempt. State ex rel., Div. of Family Servs. v. Bullock, 904 S.W.2d 510 (Mo. App. S.D. 1995). Therefore, punishment assessed is improper if it is not for the benefit of the complainant and if the alleged contemnors are unable to purge themselves of the contempt. Int’l Union, United Mine Workers of Am. v. Bagwell, 512 U.S. 821 (1994); Gompers v. Buck’s Stove & Range Co., 221 U.S. 418 (1911); Chem. Fireproofing Corp. v. Bronska, 553 S.W.2d 710 (Mo. App. E.D. 1977). It provides a coercive means of compelling one party to deliver or perform the relief granted to the other. Levis v. Markee, 771 S.W.2d 928 (Mo. App. E.D. 1989); Redifer v. Redifer, 650 S.W.2d 26 (Mo. App. E.D. 1983). The trial court’s contempt power may only...