60-211. Signing of pleadings, motions and other papers; representations to the court; sanctions. (a) Signature. Every pleading, written motion and other paper must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's name, or by a party personally if the party is unrepresented. The paper must state the signer's address, e-mail address, telephone number and fax number. Unless a rule or statute specifically states otherwise, a pleading need not be verified or accompanied by an affidavit or a declaration pursuant to K.S.A. 53-601, and amendments thereto. The court must strike an unsigned paper unless the omission is promptly corrected after being called to the attorney's or party's attention.

(b) Representations to the court. By presenting to the court a pleading, written motion or other paper, whether by signing, filing, submitting or later advocating it, an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the person's knowledge, information and belief formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances:

(1) It is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay or needlessly increase the cost of litigation;

(2) the claims, defenses and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying or reversing existing law or for establishing new law;

(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and

(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of information.

(c) Sanctions. If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the court determines that subsection (b) has been violated, the court may impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm or party that violated the statute or is responsible for a violation committed by its partner, associate or employee. The sanction may include an order to pay to the other party or parties that [the] reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion or other paper. A motion for sanctions under this section may be served and filed at any time during pendency of the action, but must be filed not later than 14 days after the entry of judgment.

(d) Inapplicability to discovery. Subsections (a) through (c) do not apply to disclosures and discovery requests, responses, objections and motions that are subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 60-226 through 60-237, and amendments thereto.

(e) Applicability to the state. The state of Kansas, including an agency or political subdivision thereof, is subject to this section.

(f) Monetary sanctions against inmate. If the court imposes monetary sanctions on an inmate in the custody of the secretary of corrections, the secretary is authorized to disburse any money in the inmate's account to pay the sanctions.

History: L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-211; amended by Supreme Court order dated July 28, 1976; L. 1982, ch. 241, § 2; L. 1986, ch. 215, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 173, § 6; L. 2010, ch. 135, § 78; L. 2011, ch. 48, § 6; July 1.