This аppeal requires a determination whether a district court may enter a default judgment against a defendant as a sanction for the defendant’s deceiving the court on a matter wholly unrelated to the merits of the defendant’s case. We conclude that the entry of default under such circumstances is inconsistent with the requirements of due process and therefore reverse the judgment of the District Court and remand the case for further proceedings.
I. FACTS
On October 20, 1978, appellee Phoceene Sous-Marine (“Phoceene”) brought this action against appellants U. S. Phosmarine, Inc. and Samuel G. Lecocq 1 for patent and trademark infringement, wrongful disclosure and appropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and failure to pay an account stated. Trial was originally schedulеd for February of 1979 but, because of the complexity of the case, was continued until August of that year. Approximately one week prior to the August trial date, appellants’ attorney requested an additional continuance until October of 1979. The basis asserted for this сontinuance was that a conflict existed between the attorney’s vacation schedule and the scheduled trial date. The District Court granted the continuance and trial was rescheduled for October 10, 1979. At a pretrial hearing on October 9, *804 1979, appellants’ attorney once again requested a continuance, asserting that Samuel Lecocq had suffered a physical and nervous breakdown while in France and would be unable to attend trial for approximately 45 days. 2 Because Lecocq’s presence would significantly аid the presentation of appellants’ case, the District Court granted the continuance, but ordered Lecocq to submit to examination by an independent physician.
The circumstances surrounding Lecocq’s alleged illness require extended discussion. On October 1, 1979, nine days prior to the scheduled trial date, Lecocq left the United States for France, allegedly to visit his ailing mother. Shortly after his arrival in France, Lecocq allegedly became ill, complaining of chest pains and an arrhythmic heartbeat. Lecocq mentioned these ailments to his sister, Madeleine Martin, the Director of Nursing at Bon Repos Hospital, Bourg-en-Bresse, France. Ms. Martin then attempted, on October 2 or 3, to arrange for an examination of Lecocq by Dr. J. Paul Renand, a French physician affiliated with the Bon Repos Hospital. 3 Because of his busy schedule, Dr. Renand was unable to schedule an appointment for Lecocq prior to October 5.
On October 3, Lecocq telephoned his attorney 4 and allegedly stated: “I’m beat— any way to postpone the trial?” 5 Lecocq’s attorney replied that a continuance could bе obtained on the basis of Lecocq’s illness only if a statement confirming that illness were obtained from a physician. On October 3, prior to any consultation with a physician, Lecocq’s sister, with Lecocq’s knowledge and consent, 6 sent a telegram to the court under Dr. Renand’s name stating:
“Due to extremely grave condition of Mr. Samuel Lecocq’s mother and great stress in business affairs the patient is suffering mental and physical exhaustion. Mandatory that Mr. Lecocq refrain from activity which would result in physical or mental stress for at least 45 days.”
(punctuation added). 7 This telegrаm, although sent under Dr. Renand’s name, was sent without Dr. Renand’s knowledge or consent and was relied upon by the District Court in granting Lecocq’s motion for a continuance. In fact, Lecocq was not examined by Dr. Renand until October 5, two days after the telegram was dispatched.
During subsequent proceedings, Lecocq consistently endeavored to prevent disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the dispatch of the telegram. Lecocq originally contended that the telegram was sent by Dr. Renand’s English-speaking assistant pursuant to the doctor’s instructions. When it was discovered that Dr. Renand had no such assistant, Lecocq contended that, although the telegram was sent by his sister, the telegram was in accordance with a certificate issued by Dr. Renand following the doctor’s examination of Lecocq. When it was discovered that the telegram was sent prior to Lecocq’s examination by Dr. Renand, Lecocq admitted that the telegram was sent by his sister but contended that, under French medical practice, his sister, as a nurse, was authorized to send the telegram under Dr. Renand’s name prior to *805 Lecocq’s examination by the doctor. 8 According to the affidavit by Dr. Renand, Lecocq’s efforts to suppress the true information regarding the circumstances surrounding the telegram even extended to attempts to convince Dr. Renand to testify falsely that the telegram was sent after Lecocq had been examinеd.
The District Court found that in falsely sending the above-referenced telegram, 9 Lecocq had willfully deceived the court. 10 The court thereafter struck appellants’ pleadings, entered default judgment, and issued a preliminary injunction against appellants. 11
II. DISCUSSION
A. Jurisdiction
After entering default judgment against appellants, the District Court granted Phoceene’s request for preliminary injunctive relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a) confers upon this Court jurisdiction to review orders of the District Court granting or denying injunctive relief. This review “extends to all matters inextricably bound up with the . .. [injunction] and the court ... may consider the merits of the case .. . . ” Wright,
Federal Courts
513 (3d ed. 1976);
aсcord, Aerojet-General Corp. v. American Arbitration Ass’n,
B. The Propriety of the Default Judgment
Appellants challenge the entry of default in the present case on two grounds. 12 First, appellants contend that the evidence was insufficient to establish that Lecocq perpetrated a fraud on the сourt. Second, appellants contend that, even if the evidence was sufficient to establish a fraud on the court, the district judge lacked the power to enter default as a sanction for that fraud. We address the former contention first.
Lecocq’s conduct clearly does not constitute a “fraud on the court” as that term has previously been defined in this Circuit. A “fraud on the court” is “an unconscionable plan or scheme which is designed to improperly influence the court in its decision.”
England v. Doyle,
Appellants’ contention that thе evidence was insufficient to establish that Lecocq willfully deceived the court is wholly without merit. It is undisputed that the October 3 telegram purporting to come from Dr. Renand was sent prior to Lecocq’s examination by the doctor. When questioned about the telegram and thе circumstances surrounding its dispatch, Lecocq told numerous contradictory stories. Moreover, at no time did Lecocq come forward and explain the circumstances surrounding the telegram. Under these circumstances, we conclude that the evidence wаs sufficient to clearly and convincingly establish that Lecocq willfully deceived the court in an effort to delay trial. 13
We now turn to Lecocq’s contention that the District Court lacks power to enter default as a sanction for Lecocq’s deceptive conduсt. We somewhat reluctantly conclude that Lecocq’s position has merit and that the entry of default as a sanction for a deception of the court on a matter wholly unrelated to the merits of the controversy is inconsistent with the requirements of due process. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of default and remand the cause for further proceedings.
It is firmly established that the courts have inherent power to dismiss an action or enter a default judgment to ensure the orderly administration of justice and the integrity of their orders.
Landis
v.
North American Co.,
The Supreme Court subsequently limited
Hovey
in
Hammond Packing Co. v. Arkansas,
In the present case, Lecocq’s deception related not to the merits of the controversy but rather to a peripheral matter: whether Lecocq was in fact too ill to attend trial on October 10. Because the deception was wholly unrelated to the matters in controversy, no legitimate inference regarding the merits of Lecocq’s position may be drawn. Accordingly, the entry of default in the present case was impermissible.
See Securities & Exchange Comm’n v. Seaboard Corp.,
*807 III. CONCLUSION
We are not unsympathetic to the plight of the district judge in the present case. When faced with a recalcitrant, deceitful party, the district judge exercised admirable restraint. We hold, however, that default may not be entered as a sanction for a party’s deception where that deсeption relates only to a peripheral matter not at issue in the suit. Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this OPINION.
REVERSED.
Notes
. When necessary, U. S. Phosmarine and Samuel G. Lecocq will be referred to collеctively as “appellants.”
. Appellants’ attorney also based his request for a continuance on the contention that the case was not yet ready for trial. The district judge rejected that contention.
. Lecocq’s sister, Madeleine Martin, was not employеd by Dr. Renand.
. Gilbert Thomas, Lecocq’s attorney at that time, is no longer representing Lecocq and new counsel has been retained.
. Lecocq gave this account of his telephone conversation to Dr. Sheffner, a physician retained by Phoceene to examine Lecocq.
. Lecocq originally stated that he was present when the telegram was sent. Although Lecocq later changed his testimony on this issue, the District Court found that Lecocq was aware that the telegram was being sent prior to Le-cocq’s being examined by Dr. Renand. This finding is amply supported by the record.
. This telegram was sent in the English language. Dr. Renand does not speak or write in the English language.
. The District Court rejected this contention and expressly found that the conduct of Le-cocq’s sister was not permitted under French medical сustom.
. Lecocq also defied or ignored numerous court orders mandating production of his medical records. Lecocq eventually complied with these orders and the entry of default rested exclusively on Lecocq’s deceiving the court regarding his alleged illness.
. The District Court styled Lecocq’s deception as a “fraud on the court.” As noted below, however, Lecocq’s conduct technically does not amount to a “fraud on the court” as that term has been defined previously.
. The issuance of the preliminary injunction was сlearly based upon the entry of default judgment against appellants. Because the entry of default was error, the injunction issued by the District Court cannot stand. Accordingly, we need not address appellants’ contentions that the injunctive relief ordered by the District Court was improper.
. Appellants also contend that the district judge abused his discretion in entering the default judgment. Because we conclude that the entry of default judgment was beyond the power of the District Court in this case, we need not consider this contention.
. “Fraud on the court” must bе proved by clear and convincing evidence.
England v. Doyle,
. Phoceene contends that we may presume appellants’ case was lacking in merit from Le-cocq’s unwillingness to go to trial expeditiously. We disagree. Mere dilatory tactics provide *807 too insubstantial a foundation to support such a presumption.