Barkhausen v. Craycom

In a dispute over an investment, appellant Michael Barkhausen sued Craycom Incorporated, d/b/a Crayons to Computers, and its president and vice-president, Sharon and Anthony Matera (collectively "Craycom"). After holding a bench trial, granting a new trial, and then holding a second trial, the trial court entered judgment in favor of Craycom and awarded it $30,000 in attorneys fees as a sanction. In this appeal, we decide whether the trial court abused its discretion in (1) denying Barkhausen a jury for the second trial, and (2) awarding fees as a sanction. We conclude it did not as to the former but did as to the latter. We therefore affirm the trial courts judgment on the merits and reverse the sanctions award.