Contempt of Court

From Florida Legal Wiki

“While the purpose of a criminal contempt fine is to punish, fines for civil contempt are considered coercive or compensatory.” Politz v. Booth, 910 So.2d 397, 398 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005), citing Parisi v. Broward County, 769 So.2d 359, 363 (Fla. 2000). As such, “[c]ivil contempt fines are levied to coerce the violator into complying with the terms of the injunction” and “the order imposing the fine must include a purge provision.” Politz, 910 So.2d at 398 (“A purge provision allows the fine to be avoided or reduced if the violator complies with the injunction”), citing Gregory v. Rice, 727 So.2d 251, 254 (Fla. 1999).